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[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Andy Mccullough"
]
| 2016-08-30T00:49:59 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fdodgers%2Fla-sp-dodgers-report-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4cb9c/turbine/la-sp-dodgers-report-20160829-snap | en | null | Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to face hitters on Tuesday | null | null | www.latimes.com | Shortly after playing catch at Coors Field on Monday, Clayton Kershaw packed a bag and headed for a flight back to Los Angeles. Three other pitchers on the disabled list — Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood — followed a similar schedule.
The quartet traveled to Denver on Sunday evening to take part in the team’s fantasy football draft. A more important assignment awaits Kershaw on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. He will take part in a simulated game, along with McCarthy and Brett Anderson, that could be his final step before pitching in the majors.
Manager Dave Roberts indicated it was “plausible” Kershaw could be activated onto the big league roster after this outing. Kershaw has not pitched in a game since June 26 after suffering a herniated disk in his back. He could also require a one-start, minor league rehabilitation assignment before he rejoins the Dodgers.
“We have a couple different scenarios,” Roberts said before Monday’s game against the Rockies. “Depending on how he comes out of it tomorrow, we’ll make a decision.”
The Dodgers plan to bring in hitters from Class-A Rancho Cucamonga to stand in against Kershaw, Anderson and McCarthy. Anderson is recovering from a blister on his left index finger. McCarthy has dealt with a hip issue that coincided with his sudden inability to throw strikes.
One potential hitter who won’t be at the ballpark on Tuesday? Tim Tebow, who is holding a heavily publicized showcase for scouts the same day in Los Angeles.
“I don’t know if Tebow is ready for that,” Roberts said. “I know there’s some strength behind his swing. I saw a little video. Great athlete. I don’t know if he’s ready for the Clayton Kershaw slider, though.”
Short hops
Ross Stripling will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday . . . Wood (elbow impingement) should be ready to pitch off a mound by next week, Roberts said. The team hopes Wood can rejoin the bullpen by the middle of September . . . Roberts does not expect Andre Ethier (broken leg) to be activated when the rosters expand on Thursday. “It’s a possibility, but for me, right now, unlikely,” Roberts said. “When he’s ready to come back, and he feels like he can contribute, he’ll be activated.” Ethier is playing with Rancho Cucamonga on a rehab assignment.
[email protected]
Twitter: @McCulloughTimes | http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-report-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/8dac038d08eb0170bbde299948b2e792b477b1b22c987bff89fe298eb199ea5b.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T14:49:09 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Ftravel%2Fdeals%2Fla-tr-films-20160812-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | films&programs for 8/28 print and online | null | null | www.latimes.com | RUNNING
Workshop
REI experts will discuss trail-running techniques and training as well as favorite places to run trails in Southern California.
When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Woodland Hills, 6220 Topanga Canyon Blvd.,
Admission, info: Free. (818) 703-5300
YOSEMITE
Presentation
Naturalist and guide Suzanne Swedo will share when and where to go to see the best of Yosemite National Park.
Caption What did you do on your summer vacation? Took photos, we bet. Share them with us and the world Our annual summer vacation photo issue is almost here. What will you submit for possible inclusion in our Sept. 18 issue? Our annual summer vacation photo issue is almost here. What will you submit for possible inclusion in our Sept. 18 issue? Caption Designers add a personal touch to the decor of the Dorland house A glimpse at the decor of Lloyd Wright's Dorland house in Altadena by designers Miao Miao and Scott Franklin A glimpse at the decor of Lloyd Wright's Dorland house in Altadena by designers Miao Miao and Scott Franklin
When, where: 7 p.m. Thursday at the Adventure 16 store, 11161 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
Admission, info: Free. (310) 473-4574.
SAN PEDRO
Open house
Discover the Salinas de San Pedro Salt Marsh with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators and naturalists.
When, where: 2-4 p.m. Sept. 4
Admission, info: Free. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro. (310) 548-7562
Please email announcements at least three weeks before the event to [email protected]. | http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-films-20160812-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/4985bb593b6b146b479e0d3d5dc2ec21da218dd97fa8c7bcd1dd461a8bc0bfaf.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Maddy"
]
| 2016-08-27T06:48:58 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-friday-s-scores-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: Friday's scores | null | null | www.latimes.com | null | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-friday-s-scores-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/e63cd0c7ce6b960593a5cb47bb1c11211f9d8bf82b954156620408ec9e7c07ed.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"The Times Editorial Board"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:50:10 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2Fla-ed-planned-parenthood-video-bill-20160831-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c62320/turbine/la-ed-planned-parenthood-video-bill-20160831-snap | en | null | New bill to protect Planned Parenthood is bad for whistleblowers | null | null | www.latimes.com | After anti-abortion activists released hidden-camera videos last year that purported to show Planned Parenthood officials selling body parts from aborted fetuses, the organization’s opponents went into high gear, pushing state and federal officials to cut off public funds to the group and seek criminal charges. Never mind that the videos, some of which were deceptively edited, didn’t actually demonstrate that Planned Parenthood violated the federal law against fetal tissue sales. The agit-prop provided abortion opponents with enough political momentum to persuade lawmakers in at least six state capitals to bar the organization from receiving public funds for providing women’s health services.
Since then, Planned Parenthood and its allies have pushed back in the courts, in Congress and in some state capitals, where prosecutors launched investigations into whether the surreptitious filmmakers from the Center for Medical Progress violated contracts, illegally doctored government-issued IDs or ran afoul of privacy laws. But now, Planned Parenthood wants to go further. It’s supporting a bill in the California Legislature, AB 1671 by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles), that would make it a crime to distribute a recording or even a transcript of a private conversation with a healthcare provider.
State law already makes it a criminal violation of privacy, punishable by up to 3 years in prison, to use an electronic device to listen in on or record people without their permission. Gomez’s bill ups the ante by making it illegal for the eavesdropper to disclose or distribute “in any manner, in any forum,” what that person heard or recorded, if the victim is any type of healthcare provider. That prohibition would apply regardless of what the heathcare provider was discussing — not just sensitive details about patients, but also private conversations about fees and billing practices, drug marketers, or plans for the weekend.
Why a healthcare provider merits special protection even when discussing things that don’t involve patient privacy is mystifying. Worse, the original version of the bill pushed by Planned Parenthood would have allowed prosecutors to target not just those who made the recordings, but those who shared them online, reported on them or published the transcripts.
The proposal had civil libertarians, news organizations and filmmakers in an uproar, and rightly so. Even if you decry the Center for Medical Progress’ work, the version of AB 1671 that reached the Senate floor could have criminalized sharing or reporting on legitimate, valuable and even potentially life-saving undercover video work.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
Proponents of the bill finally agreed Tuesday to amend it to clarify that only those who actively participated in making the illegal recording could be prosecuted or sued for helping distribute it.
But make no mistake, this measure would heap more criminal and civil penalties on making a secret recording — an act that’s already prohibited by state law, even when done in the public interest — simply to satisfy an interest group popular among Sacramento Democrats. In fact, it would further disincentivize potential whistleblowers from recording malfeasance when they witness it — for example, a patient who sees her doctor handing out opioid prescriptions like candy, or a farm worker who catches a veterinarian approving a sick cow for the slaughterhouse. The potential for unanticipated and unwelcome consequences is huge.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-planned-parenthood-video-bill-20160831-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c91b407fd5d03d39dc37bcab570cac6c897f1255c9430743c2c8e0b209d6d81a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Ruben Vives"
]
| 2016-08-29T12:50:09 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-maywood-firm-hiring-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Small, financially troubled Maywood hires engineering firm slammed in audit | null | null | www.latimes.com | Eduardo De La Riva, a Maywood councilman, said he warned his colleagues that an engineering firm they were considering hiring might have been booted out of South El Monte because of questionable practices.
The company, ECM Group Inc., had lost its contract over questionable billings, De La Riva said he heard from someone in South El Monte.
But that didn’t stop the council of the small, financially troubled city in southeast Los Angeles County from voting in May to hire the firm. The following month, South El Monte released an audit that accused ECM of submitting false time sheets and billing reports to the city.
The audit slammed the company, saying that among other things, workers were reporting as many as 27 hours for some work days.
The hiring follows a recent spate of decisions by Maywood officials that have provoked criticism. Already facing a state audit and scrutiny by the district attorney’s office over whether the city violated open-meeting laws, Maywood this year hired a laid-off Boeing project manager whom the mayor had met as a customer at his auto shop to be its city manager, even though he had no municipal experience.
Maywood also granted its council members, clerk and treasurer $250 monthly mileage stipends to drive in and around the county’s second-smallest city, at just over one square mile, by size. Using the Internal Revenue Service’s suggested reimbursement rate for business travel of 54 cents a mile, city officials would need to drive 463 miles a month to reach the $250 mark.
De La Riva, who serves as Maywood’s mayor pro tem, called the mileage stipend a “pay raise” in disguise.
Two South El Monte council members, Mayor Pro Tem Gloria Olmos and Joseph Gonzales, told The Times they had questioned why the audit, which had been finished in March, took so long to be made public. Late Tuesday, South El Monte’s city manager, Anthony Ybarra, resigned.
His resignation came after South El Monte’s mayor pleaded guilty to a federal bribery count and the release of the audit, which criticized how the city was run.
The report was commissioned after an auditor last year advised South El Monte to conduct an investigation into its internal reports to look at a variety of issues, including its “relationship with certain consultants and the contract monitoring process.”
South El Monte terminated its contract with ECM in April. The company had been providing construction and engineering services to the city for about 18 years.
In May, Maywood hired ECM on an interim basis until a contract was brought back for council approval. Two council members — De La Riva and Councilman Ricardo Villarreal — voted against the hiring.
“I was not interested in bringing the company into Maywood,“ Villarreal said. “I had heard rumors that they were in trouble in South El Monte.”
They said Maywood Building and Planning Director David Mango recommended the firm to the council.
“I had nothing to do with the selection,” Mango said in a phone interview.
Before abruptly hanging up, Mango, who was hired after settling a wrongful termination suit against Maywood and Bell, said the city was looking for a new engineering firm but ECM is still being considered for the job. Officials say ECM’s contract expired this month.
According to the audit released by South El Monte, when the firm was “confronted” with information about its billing practices, “ECM principal Hector Castillo admitted that the above referenced labor claims are fictitious, and were generated in order to secure the maximum fee allowed under the contracts.”
Castillo did not return calls to his cellphone or office.
“I tried warning the City Council about questionable billings and here we have him on record admitting he submitted fraudulent billings," De La Riva said.
Maywood City Clerk Gerry Mayagoitia said he was asked to sign a contract for ECM shortly after the firm was hired, but refused because he felt it hadn't been approved in an open meeting.
It was the second time he had been asked to sign a document that had not been approved publicly, Mayagoitia said. The first time occurred when Maywood hired its new city manager, he said.
Councilman Thomas Martin did not respond to emails or phone calls requesting comment. Mayor Ramon Medina responded via text message saying he would call back but never did. Councilman Sergio Calderon said in a text message that he’s “not speaking to any media about any controversial issues.”
The three council members had supported the mileage stipends even as the city faced a state audit that found that Maywood had amassed $16 million in debt with no plans to pay it off.
De La Riva and Villarreal worry the recent decisions will create more problems for a city that is already saddled with legal and financial hardship.
Maywood gained notoriety in 2010 when, on the brink of bankruptcy, officials laid off much of the City Hall staff and dismantled its Police Department. It contracted policing services to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and had the neighboring city of Bell handle many administrative functions.
Those plans, however, were scuttled after The Times revealed huge salaries paid to top Bell officials, which eventually led to criminal charges and convictions.
[email protected]
@LATvives | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-maywood-firm-hiring-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/d94bc57ba4cbe247168dce5db4b361a78f752557a05939712bbbda05b896ab65.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T22:49:14 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-1472330476-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c216d0/turbine/la-na-trailguide-updates-1472330476 | en | null | Wavering on immigration, Donald Trump talks tough in Iowa | null | null | www.latimes.com | After days of toggling back-and-forth on his immigration views -- specifically on deportations -- Donald Trump returned to his tough talk on Saturday, vowing that it will be his No. 1 issue should he win the presidency.
"From the first day in office, I promise the first thing I'm going to do, the first piece of paper I'm going to sign, is we're going to get rid of these people," Trump, addressing supporters at Sen. Joni Ernst's annual "Roast and Ride" gathering in Iowa, said of "criminal illegal immigrants" in the country.
The Republican nominee, reading from a teleprompter as he has done more frequently in recent weeks now, also reaffirmed that he would build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Still, despite his comments on Saturday, Trump, who is trailing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, appears to be considering a shift in his position.
In a Fox News interview Wednesday, Trump expressed openness to being flexible about who he would deport, suggesting he might offer exemptions for those who have no criminal records and agree to pay back taxes.
On Thursday, in an interview on CNN, Trump noted that "you can’t take 11 [million] at one time and just say, ‘boom, you’re gone."
During the GOP primary Trump called for mass deportations of all nearly 11 million people in the country illegally.
In response to his latest comments, some Republicans, such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, have said Trump's wavering could hurt his standing with his base supporters.
For Trump, Saturday was about stressing that he's not wavering on immigration – particularly when it comes to immigrants in the country illegally who have criminal records. (He did not talk about the millions who have no criminal records).
"We're going to get rid of the criminals and it's gonna happen within one hour of when I take office we start," he boasted. "Bring them back where they came from." | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-1472330476-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/664bf52efcd600d0016fc980d1cc894e81c4e16872fb6d14f77b4dbee53c2694.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Kate Linthicum"
]
| 2016-08-31T04:49:50 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld%2Fmexico-americas%2Fla-na-trump-mexico-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Donald Trump will travel to Mexico on Wednesday to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto | null | null | www.latimes.com | Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will travel to Mexico on Wednesday for a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, a stunning move for a candidate who has repeatedly criticized Mexico and has called for mass deportations of Mexican immigrants.
Trump announced the visit late Tuesday via Twitter, saying he had accepted Peña Nieto’s invitation to visit Mexico and looked forward to the meeting.
Peña Nieto released a similar statement, saying he recently extended invitations for private meetings to Trump as well as Trump’s rival, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. “I believe in dialogue to promote the interests of Mexico in the world,” Peña Nieto said on Twitter.
Peña Nieto’s office said Clinton has so far not accepted the invitation for a meeting.
The announcement provoked angry reactions from Mexicans, many of whom have come to revile Trump for his claims that Mexico is stealing jobs from American workers and sending drugs and criminals to the U.S.
The meeting also threatened Trump’s credibility among conservative voters who like his harsh stand against illegal immigration and international trade deals, although analysts said the trip might help his appeal among the wider electorate.
“The idea of a trip to Mexico seems designed to soften some of the edges of the policies he has advocated so far and to appeal to Latino voters, as well as to many other Americans who appreciate the importance of Mexico for the United States,” said Andrew Selee of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Center.
Wednesday’s meeting in Mexico City was set to come just hours before Trump is scheduled to give a major policy speech on immigration in Arizona. Some commentators have speculated that Trump might be planning to soften his tone on immigration in the speech in order to appeal to a broader swath of voters.
Trump won conservative support in the Republican primary with pledges to build a border wall and round up and deport the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. without permission. But such views are out of sync with general election voters, a majority of whom support a path to citizenship for immigrants who are already in the country.
At a campaign rally in Illinois on Tuesday night, Trump showed no sign of softening his stance. He pledged to “secure our border and stop the drugs from pouring in and destroying our country.”
His last-minute decision to travel to Mexico is characteristic of his campaign, which has been built around made-for-television plot twists and surprise developments. After accusing Fox news of bias against his campaign in January, Trump abruptly dropped out of a scheduled GOP debate on the network and organized his own televised fundraiser as counter-programming. On a surprise visit to the Texas-Mexico border last summer, he told reporters he was putting himself “in great danger” by making the trip.
The meeting is also a risky move for Peña Nieto, who is facing historic unpopularity as his government grapples with rising crime and repeated corruption scandals. The president, who has publicly criticized Trump’s proposal to build a border wall and have Mexico pay for it, is scheduled to give his annual address to the nation this week.
Widespread distaste for Trump in Mexico is evidenced by the Trump piñatas that are ubiquitous across the country.
One political scientist wrote on Twitter that Peña Nieto's invitation to Trump felt like a father inviting his son's bully over to dinner.
Jesus Silva-Herzog Marquez, a newspaper columnist in Mexico City, was more succinct in his criticism on Twitter, calling Wednesday's meeting, “the stupidest thing in the history of the Mexican presidency."
Cecilia Sanchez in The Times’ Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. | http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-na-trump-mexico-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/4a45163c8bb882dee16a4ad08c6eab4b59662627339a8846462777df934b4c07.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:49:54 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Freadersreact%2Fla-ol-le-foundation-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4a7b8/turbine/la-ol-le-foundation-20160830-snap | en | null | Clinton Foundation stories: Where's the other side, where's the scandal? | null | null | www.latimes.com | To the editor: I think the author has made a significant point about Hillary Clinton’s health.
It is also worth noting that the medical reports issued by each of the two major candidates — Clinton and Donald Trump — could not be more disparate.
( “I’m so tired of hearing that Clinton is tired,” Opinion, Aug. 25, “Billionaire’s Clinton ties face scrutiny,” Aug. 28, and “Smoke surrounds the Clinton Foundation,” Opinion, Aug. 28)
Clinton’s medical condition is reported by a physician (an internist) using standard, acceptable medical terminology.
On the other hand, Trump’s physician, using the vernacular, issued a short letter that claims that Trump will be the healthiest person to ever serve as president.
And Rudy Giuliani’s spurious claims about Clinton’s health, as he stumps for Trump, are so ridiculous as to call into question his own current mental faculties.
Trump should release an authentic medical report, and while he’s at it, he should also release his tax returns.
Marcia Herman, Los Angeles
::
To the editor: There is little doubt that the Clinton Foundation has done a lot of good work.
In spite of that, the press has emphasized the conflict of interest with Hillary Clinton as the presidential candidate.
Of course, the Clintons have been careless in some of their actions, giving the GOP machine very good “excuses” to attack them. The Clintons might have reduced these attacks by divesting themselves from their foundation.
Looking at the other side, though, has Trump divested himself from his company?
Should he not have put his business interest in a trust if he really wants to become president of the U.S. to avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest?
Domenico Maceri, San Luis Obispo
::
To the editor: Regarding yet another negative front-page article about Clinton, I see a Pulitzer in your future — for equivocation.
Oh sure, editorially, you will endorse Clinton over Trump, albeit with much hand-wringing over her “faults.”
I could have sworn that I heard and read somewhere that she was a excellent senator and an excellent secretary of State. I have even watched some speeches where she goes into great detail about what she wants to accomplish as president.
As for the Clinton Foundation, I doubt you would flinch if it shut down, though so many would die.
I have been to Africa and seen and heard about the foundation’s work there. No, what is more important is the “perception” or “appearance” of something not proved. Again, “true” (equal number of negative stories) journalism.
Keith Frohreich, Anaheim Hills
::
To the editor: With the unending attacks on the Clinton Foundation and possible conflicts of interest regarding two people who have dedicated their lives to public service, why has no sustained effort been made by editorial and opinion writers to raise questions about Trump’s obvious conflicts with his business interests if he becomes president?
He has properties all over the world with his name plastered on most of them and anything he did or said as president could have an effect on his investments. How are those to be resolved?
What if he decides to default on one of his loans and throws another one of his properties into bankruptcy, dealing with a judge appointed by the president? The conflicts are overwhelming.
How about a little equal treatment here? Go after the most impossible-to-resolve conflict there could possibly be when a president owns real estate, encumbered by the Chinese government, no less.
John Rothman, Tarzana
::
To the editor: After reading this long article, my response is: And...?
Gilbert Chagoury is apparently a philanthropist who gives to a lot of different places.
As for the Clintons, like all the other articles I have read about the foundation, there is neither a quid nor a quo. Chagoury gave money that was of no benefit to the Clintons and got nothing in return. Why is this even a story?
Gary Page, Hemet
::
To the editor: What is the conclusion of this piece? The headline implies some major scandal, but it doesn’t deliver. It contains a lot of random facts and “he said, she said” about Chagoury, who turns out to be your standard wheeler-dealer.
Doug Band of the Clinton Global Initiative has caused a lot of trouble by soliciting State Department access for donors, but this is unfortunately what fundraisers do. There is no evidence cited that anything illegal happened.
This piece seems a typical example of mainstream media intimidation resulting from continual right-wing charges of liberal bias. There results a tendency, in order to appear balanced, to match one-for-one every critical piece about Trump or Republicans with a critical piece about Clinton.
So, the fact that people try (but apparently not succeed in this case) to get special favors from donations (an everyday occurrence in Washington) is given equal weight and presumably cancels out blame for the Republican Party’s denial of climate change or Trump’s flirtation with white supremacists. The scale is not balanced.
Donald Burnett, Arcadia
::
To the editor: The Clinton Foundation funds a range of philanthropic causes worldwide. As such, it seems reasonable that donations from wealthy foreigners would be accepted. I am tired of the news media microscopically examining every transaction, every email, every interaction, and implying nefarious motives or conflicts. Please, if you are going to cover the Clinton Foundation, balance your coverage by mentioning the good that has come from the foundation work as well.
William Prothero, Santa Barbara
::
To the editor: Doyle McManus believes the Clintons helped save millions of lives around the world.
Are foreign governments incapable of administering the work undertaken by the Clintons? Is there no other foundation on the planet capable of carrying on good work?
Shuttering the foundation and initiative would demonstrate integrity and help restore Americans’ trust in those we elect to positions of power. | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-foundation-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/348d0217e333c292819482946a2e0b39a96e6fc406f22686c840ffe4968d0bc5.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Ben Bolch"
]
| 2016-08-27T22:49:15 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fucla%2Fla-sp-ucla-basketball-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c20101/turbine/la-sp-ucla-basketball-20160827-snap | en | null | UCLA basketball team drops a close game during Australian tour | null | null | www.latimes.com | UCLA’s second stop on its Australian basketball tour wasn’t as successful as the first.
Melbourne United edged the Bruins, 89-84, in an exhibition game played early Saturday morning Los Angeles time in Melbourne.
Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford each scored 18 points for UCLA, which couldn’t replicate its 47-point blowout of a team featuring college players earlier in the week. Melbourne United competes in the professional National Basketball League.
Bruins freshman Lonzo Ball snagged a team-leading 13 rebounds to go with his eight points.
UCLA will play the Brisbane Bullets, another professional team, on Monday before returning to Los Angeles. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-basketball-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/0206fb2adfa45e818d8d589ac6a2cdf5644398c321e6613a1aa19b4161e21af3.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-26T16:49:16 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fnationnow%2Fla-na-fda-zika-blood-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c05e81/turbine/la-na-fda-zika-blood-20160826-snap | en | null | FDA advises Zika screening for all U.S. blood centers | null | null | www.latimes.com | The Food and Drug Administration wants all U.S. blood centers to start screening for Zika, a major expansion intended to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne virus.
The new advisory means all U.S. states and territories will need to begin testing blood donations for Zika. Previously, the FDA had limited the requirement to Puerto Rico and two Florida counties.
"There is still much uncertainty regarding the nature and extent of Zika virus transmission," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's biologic products center, in an agency release. "At this time, the recommendation for testing the entire blood supply will help ensure that safe blood is available for all individuals who might need transfusion."
Blood collection sites already test donations for HIV, hepatitis, West Nile virus and other blood-borne viruses.
What is Zika? Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that has spread through dozens of countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and now the United States. Zika is a mosquito-borne illness that has spread through dozens of countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and now the United States. See more videos
FDA officials said Zika testing is already underway in Puerto Rico and parts of Florida, where "it has shown to be beneficial in identifying donations infected with Zika virus."
The FDA has authorized use of two experimental blood-screening tests for Zika, one made by Roche and another from Hologic Inc. Several testing sites are already voluntarily using the technology, including blood centers in Texas. The cost of adding Zika testing to the blood screening process is less than $10, according to officials at South Texas Blood and Tissue Center.
Since February, U.S. blood centers have been turning away people who have traveled recently to areas with Zika outbreaks, under a previous FDA directive.
Zika is spread primarily by mosquito bites, as well as sex. There have been cases of Zika transmission through blood transfusion in Brazil.
The FDA works with other federal agencies to set standards for screening, testing and handling blood donations.
Last month, blood centers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale had to halt donations until they could begin screening each unit of blood. The order followed now-confirmed reports of local Zika transmission in the Miami area — the first in the continental U.S.
Puerto Rico suspended blood donations and imported blood products in March until the island began screening its blood.
Friday's announcement follows recent pressure from members of Congress urging the FDA to expand Zika screening.
"We must implement widespread universal screening now to prevent any further contamination of the blood supply before it occurs and to pre-empt a widespread shortfall in the blood supply," said Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., and half a dozen other House members, in a letter to the FDA earlier this month.
The Zika virus causes only a mild illness in most people, but scientists have confirmed that infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.
The tropical mosquito that spreads Zika and other viruses is found in the southern U.S. While health officials have predicted that mosquitoes in the continental U.S. would begin spreading Zika this summer, they also have said they expect only isolated clusters of infections and not widespread outbreaks. There have been about 40 cases of homegrown Zika in Florida.
MORE ON ZIKA
Before Zika: How the U.S. fought illnesses from pests in the past
From 'shrines' to head-to-toe attire: How Miami is coping with the arrival of Zika
Three vaccines prevent Zika infection in monkeys; vaccine trial in humans gets underway | http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-fda-zika-blood-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ad55b3596f86fe10aebfaa51294e9651b92bfb7eedc2f944d7dea7b6648f0ce7.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-27T16:48:59 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-southern-section-roundup-la-mirada-shows-you-can-improve-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1b17c/turbine/la-sp-vi-southern-section-roundup-la-mirada-shows-you-can-improve-20160827 | en | null | Southern Section roundup: La Mirada shows you can improve | null | null | www.latimes.com | It was last season that La Mirada, a public school, decided it wanted to test itself against the best of the private schools, St. John Bosco and Santa Ana Mater Dei, from the powerful Trinity League.
The Matadores were thumped, 76-8, and 42-7. In 2014, they lost to Servite, 56-14. In 2013, they lost to Servite, 38-14. The idea, though, was trying to get better.
Fast forward to Friday night. La Mirada took on another successful program from the Trinity, Orange Lutheran, and came away with a 21-14 win. See, to get better, you have to give it a try against the best. Nick Hernandez rushed for 177 yards and Chad Wilson returned an interception for a touchdown.
Cornerback Elijah Hicks helped shut down receivers Brandon McKinley and Austin Liles. Baseball standout RJ Lan contributed as a runner and tackler. Linebacker Chase Newman had a big game tackling.
Of course, La Mirada might not want to celebrate too much, because next week, there's St. John Bosco on the schedule. But Coach Mike Moschetti is showing there's a plan for the madness of a public school taking on the Trinity League powerhouses.
Orange Lutheran is going to have to experience some growing pains moving away from relying on running the ball. Sophomore QB Ryan Hilinski had his moments.
Sierrra Canyon (2-0) is flexing its muscles. It scored a 36-0 win over Palisades. UC Davis-bound quarterback Niko Harris completed 12 of 13 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns. Dylan Tait had 141 yards in receptions and two TDs.
Newbury Park QB Cameron Rising completed 20 of 34 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns in a 65-44 win over Oxnard Pacifiica. He has thrown 196 consecutive passes without an interception.
Mater Dei sophomore QB J.T. Daniels is getting scary good. He was 19 of 22 passing for 373 yards and six touchdowns in the Monarchs' 63-14 win over Bishop Amat.
Norco upset one of the best teams from Arizona, Desert Ridge, 14-10. Quarterback Nick Lasher completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Velasco in the fourth quarter.
Dominguez was down to its fourth-string QB because of injuries and lost to Tustin, 39-20.
Alemany won in the coaching debut of James Washington, 42-13. Cayden Dunn had touchdown runs of 47 and 55 yards.
Flintridge Prep, in the coaching debut of former Crespi standout Russell White, defeated Fulton Prep, 53-6, in a return to eight-man football for the Rebels.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-southern-section-roundup-la-mirada-shows-you-can-improve-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/67a26d91c644dd31beb7fbe6831ca975737880e9ecb889aeba594e2ae0e032bc.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-29T00:49:48 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-linebacker-winston-anawalt-picks-up-where-he-left-off-for-loyola-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: Linebacker Winston Anawalt picks up where he left off for Loyola | null | null | www.latimes.com | Tackling is the name of the game as far as senior linebacker Winston Anawalt of Loyola is concerned.
He was the team's leading tackler a year ago and has picked up where he left off.
He had 12 tackles and one forced fumble in the Cubs' season-opening win over Highland last week.
Next up for the Cubs is a Friday road game against Santa Margarita.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-linebacker-winston-anawalt-picks-up-where-he-left-off-for-loyola-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/106ee3fa226ac11b50abb099f4c0b21c7104457406cbdffc12669b3e73d0f050.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:50:02 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fpolitics%2Fessential%2Fla-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-state-senator-introduces-resolution-to-1472534559-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5a1e0/turbine/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-state-senator-introduces-resolution-to-1472534559 | en | null | State senator introduces resolution to condemn EpiPen price hikes | null | null | www.latimes.com | State Sen. Ed Hernandez's attempt to push through a drug pricing transparency bill sputtered this year, but the West Covina Democrat still wants his colleagues to weigh in on the latest controversy in the cost of prescription drugs: the surging price of EpiPens.
Hernandez is introducing a resolution that excoriates the anti-allergy device's manufacturer, Mylan, joining a chorus of federal lawmakers who have accused the company of price-gouging.
The price of the emergency injection devices meant to treat severe allergic reactions climbed to more than $600 for a two-pack — a more than 500% increase since the drug was acquired by Mylan. Following a firestorm about the price hike, the company has since announced will offer coupons to offset the high cost and that it will sell a cheaper, generic version of the drug.
Hernandez's resolution would urge Congress to investigate Mylan's near-monopoly on the EpiPen and would urge the federal Food and Drug Administration to reconsider denying approval of generic alternatives.
"The federal administration and Congress have the power to limit the unrestrained ability of Mylan to gouge our health care system, and they should use it,” Hernandez said in a statement.
The measure is the latest sign that Hernandez will continue to hammer pharmaceutical companies on prescription drug prices, even though he opted to pull his measure SB 1010 after it was significantly scaled back earlier this month.
Hernandez, the chair of the state Senate health committee, intends to hold a series of informational hearings about drug prices in the fall, and he plans to invite Mylan's chief executive to participate in one.
“My experience with Senate Bill 1010 has made me more resolved than ever to bring transparency to these arbitrary and harmful drug price increases," he said. "In addition to the series of informational hearings on rising drug prices, I will reintroduce SB 1010 in December. However, something must be done now to correct the market for this particular drug."
The joint resolution will come up for a vote on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon and will then head to the Assembly. It must clear both houses by the close of the legislative session on Wednesday. | http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-state-senator-introduces-resolution-to-1472534559-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/9af0acc75a184754993ca0b557741c914b63d6fa7ac216e18b7bbf9c910c17c6.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mark Olsen"
]
| 2016-08-27T14:48:50 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies%2Fla-ca-mn-indie-summer-favorites-20160818-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bdd992/turbine/la-ca-mn-indie-summer-favorites-20160818-snap | en | null | The indie summer provided a cure for for blockbuster blues | null | null | www.latimes.com | The aggregate opinion on this summer movie season seems to be that it was full of disappointments. Films made from the seemingly critic-proof formula of sequels and reboots with built-in audiences nevertheless seemed to let down critics and audiences alike week after week.
From “X-Men: Apocalypse” to “Independence Day: Resurgence” to “Jason Bourne” to “Suicide Squad” it seemed mainstream movie after movie arrived with outsized expectations and diminished results. Yet over that same period of time the story around the corner at the arthouse has been quite different. The entire summer was full of fresh, engaging movies, both in the stories filmmakers told and the storytelling with which they told them.
And while none of these films have been huge crossover hits, there have been some surprise successes, such as the nearly $14 million for Whit Stillman’s adaptation of a relatively obscure Jane Austen story in “Love & Friendship” and more than $9 million for Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian rom-rom allegory “The Lobster.”
These films come from a mix of veterans working with renewed vigor and new faces finding their voices. Do not be surprised if these are titles that hang around in conversation even as the fall’s prestige titles are unveiled, acting in a sense as poll-position placeholders just demanding to be knocked from their places.
And yet still many people say that it’s hard to find something worth leaving the house for these days, and so they prefer watching something on VOD or a streaming services. They’ll wait, they say, when it comes to seeing these so-called “smaller” movies but somehow still shell out top dollar for multiplex disappointments.
The thing that really binds these films together is that all of them find their own unique way onto just considering what it means to be a person, living a life, within a society. With this election season feeling particularly tumultuous, the fact is that these movies, as strange and jarring as some of them they may be, have all made me feel better, have made me feel hope.
And that seems worth leaving the house for.
So as a recap of the summer – and perhaps to give some a headstart in lining up their digital queues to catch up on titles they’ve missed – here is a run-down of some of the best of what’s been multi-plex adjacent this season.
Break story here
The idea of Whit Stilman adapting Jane Austen with “Love & Friendship” sounded so perfect it was hard to believe that he hadn’t actually done it already. Austen’s acuity with manners and social formalities and the way they shape and inform people’s emotions and behaviors was a perfect template for the maker of “Metropolitan” and “The Last Days of Disco.”
What was unexpected was the brio and energy he brought to it, as he sharpened the wit of Austen’s dialogue and plotting into something both period and modern. Plus Kate Beckinsale’s performance as a social climber fighting against the downward slope revealed sides of the actress long forgotten by many audiences who were more familiar with her “Underworld” sci-fi thrillers..
In a sense, a Jane Austen adaptation was a fairly traditional arthouse item, and there were a few other films that also took the expected and tuned it on its head. Luca Guadanino’s “A Bigger Splash,” was a tale of domestic betrayal drenched in woozy, sun-stroke sensuality, with an undercurrent of critique of privilege and a dazzlingly attractive cast of Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Matthias Schoenaerts and Dakota Johnson. Joachim Trier’s “Louder than Bombs” likewise took a family dysfunction drama and shattered its chronology to create something that felt new.
A number of films felt so unusual and disorienting in their storytelling that it could be hard to see how at their core they dealt with basic human emotions and interactions. “The Lobster” is set in a world where single people are given 45 days to find a new partner or be turned into the animal of their choice. It is a deadpan absurdist essay on love and coupledom that is also deeply romantic, in no small part thanks to the performances of Rachel Weisz and Colin Farrell.
On a not unrelated note, in “Swiss Army Man,” Paul Dano plays a suicidal man on a deserted island who comes across a corpse that initially only farts but comes to serve as a multi-purpose survival tool and even friend and companion. Written and directed by the team of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, credited together as Daniels, the film is deeply moving, about finding purpose and meaning in life through death and flatulence. Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s “High-Rise” comes to similar conclusions from something of the opposite direction, as it is a savage, nihilistic vision of human behavior that nevertheless manages to find enough scraps of human kindness, empathy and comfort to make life worth living.
All three of those films are in their own weird ways life-affirming. More straight-forwardly so were a number of other films, perhaps the best example being Mike Birbiglia’s “Don’t Think Twice.” A bittersweet comedy-drama about the dashed ambitions of an improv comedy troupe, this might be among the most upbeat movies ever made about failure, about the pain of realizing the path you are on is not the one for you and the relief of discovering something new.
Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” is a funny, warm-hearted fable about a boy (Julian Dennison) who ends up on the run from the law in the wilderness with a begrudging foster father (Sam Neill). While Chad Hartigan’s “Morris From America” is about an African-American father and son (Craig Robinson and Markees Christmas), each dealing with feeling out of place in a small German town. Earnest stories of emotions, friends and family still have a place even in our current hyper-aware, ever-meta mentality.
Pruitt (John Carroll Lynch) attempts to calm Will (Logan Marshall-Green) during a tense moment in Drafthouse Films' 'The Invitation.' Courtesy of Drafthouse Films. Pruitt (John Carroll Lynch) attempts to calm Will (Logan Marshall-Green) during a tense moment in Drafthouse Films' 'The Invitation.' Pruitt (John Carroll Lynch) attempts to calm Will (Logan Marshall-Green) during a tense moment in Drafthouse Films' 'The Invitation.' (Courtesy of Drafthouse Films.)
A number of films smartly engaged with genre tropes and found new wrinkles from old cloth. Karyn Kusama’s “The Invitation,” written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, was a slow-boil freak-out horror thriller and also a playful satire of Los Angeles’ go-with-the-flow social scene and exploratory spirituality. No one wants to look uncool at their friend’s dinner party until it starts to seem maybe the new thing they are into is some kind of death cult. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-indie-summer-favorites-20160818-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/8d7501388fd9eb88016372826b11dac4246607f9887288cf7a99c67992f29b68.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:51:23 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-palin-warns-trump-against-wishy-washy-1472218441-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0780e/turbine/la-na-trailguide-updates-palin-warns-trump-against-wishy-washy-1472218441 | en | null | Sarah Palin warns that Trump will lose core support if he wavers on immigration | null | null | www.latimes.com | Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, one of Donald Trump's most prominent early endorsers, warned that his "wishy-washy" comments on immigration could disappoint his backers.
Trump has wavered in recent days from hard-line views on immigration, the hallmark of his campaign, including a reconsideration of his plan to deport 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. At the same time, though, he has repeated at rallies his pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
“Parts of that message we heard in the last week are clearly not consistent with the stringent position and message that supporters have received all along,” Palin told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
Palin also said on Fox News that Trump will lose supporters who were drawn to him during the GOP primary if he softens his immigration plan. She added that his plan to build a border wall shows he understands how to follow the “will of the people.”
“Thank God he’s still preaching that because if he were not, then there would be a huge erosion of support,” she said. | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-palin-warns-trump-against-wishy-washy-1472218441-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/4e33adc2cab94934d982d4e0441b0311ee8ed483c7ef9b7f281069c6384c12ef.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Alice Walton"
]
| 2016-08-27T12:49:04 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-essential-california-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0d199/turbine/la-me-essential-california-20160827-snap | en | null | Essential California: China's building boom in Los Angeles | null | null | www.latimes.com | Good morning. It is Saturday, Aug. 27. Here’s what you don’t want to miss this weekend:
TOP STORIES
Changing skyline: The building booms of Beijing and Shanghai are being replicated in downtown Los Angeles. “When all these mega-projects are finished, they’re going to have to re-shoot the postcard picture of downtown L.A.,” said Mark Tarczynski, executive vice president for Colliers International’s L.A. office. Los Angeles Times
Running late: The downtown to Santa Monica Expo Line is proving a hit with riders. But it’s also showing the growing pains of L.A.’s expanding light rail system. Expo Line trains are packed, and some are frustrated with how late the trains sometimes are. Los Angeles Times
Records fight: The First Amendment Coalition is suing the city of Los Angeles over the destruction of records related to former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge. The group, which advocates for open government, believes the city violated the California Public Records Act by withholding or illegally destroying the records. A spokesman for the city attorney declined to comment. Los Angeles Times
Famous case: It was seven years ago Friday that Jaycee Dugard was rescued in one of the nation's most notorious abduction cases. Dugard was just 11 when she was kidnapped near her South Lake Tahoe home. She was held captive for 18 years, during which time she gave birth to two girls. Sacramento Bee
Court loss: Also on Friday, a federal appeals court found that Dugard could not hold federal parole agents liable for failing to supervise their parolee, Phillip Garrido. “While our hearts are with Ms. Dugard, the law is not,” Judge John B. Owens wrote in an opinion for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Los Angeles Times
Counterfeit bills: The Secret Service believes there’s a lot of funny money coming out of the Bay Area. Agents have found $5-million worth of phony $100 bills. Mercury News
Forever young: Assembly Bill 1687 is pitting Hollywood against Silicon Valley. SAG-AFTRA wants websites to scrub actors’ birth dates to prevent age discrimination, but power-players like Amazon, Google and Facebook oppose the move on the grounds of free speech. 89.3 KPCC
Prime real estate: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton just paid $19,405 a square foot for space on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. “There are only 2½ blocks on Rodeo Drive and every luxury retailer wants to anchor their brand on Rodeo,” said Marc Schillinger, a director with commercial real estate company HFF. Los Angeles Times
THIS WEEK’S MOST POPULAR STORIES IN ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA
1. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will open a retrospective of photographer Anthony Hernandez’s work next month. See L.A. through his lens. New York Times
2. New test scores are in for California’s kids. How well did your child’s school do? Los Angeles Times
3. There’s a new baby at the San Francisco Zoo. SFist
4. A leaking suitcase. An injured woman. What was Winnie Ruth Judd doing in Los Angeles? LA Weekly
5. Here’s what you need to know to have a successful ride on the Metro Expo Line. Los Angeles Magazine
ICYMI, HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S GREAT READS
Childhood traumas: Can poverty and violence affect the brains of children? Researchers examined Los Angeles teenagers and believe viewing violence and other factors changes their brains. Newsweek
Death row: California hasn’t executed anyone in years. But Los Angeles and Riverside counties still play a controversial role in the debate about capital punishment. New York Times
Capturing the drug war: Police and vigilantes have killed 1,900 people since Rodrigo Duterte came to power in the Philippines on June 30. That’s created a lot of opportunity and work for photographers on the overnight shift. But the powerful images have yet to ignite anger or outrage. Los Angeles Times
Questionable sentences: A Santa Clara County judge sparked a national debate for what many say was a light sentence for a Stanford University student found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman. Now, a second case of questionable sentencing has emerged. BuzzFeed
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday: The annual Go Topless march will be held in Venice Beach. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-essential-california-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/7e04d5f63a2785c2d9164bf2b594b23bd292e08b32aa59ce9d39f76ca20e51a9.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T02:49:21 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-rams-6-broncos-0-after-aqib-talib-1472349072-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Rams 6, Broncos 0, after Aqib Talib personal foul penalty | null | null | www.latimes.com | Case Keenum took over with the ball on the Denver 44.
After running back Malcolm Brown gained three-yards on first down, Keenum was forced to pull the ball down and make a run of his own on second only as he got out of bounds he was hit from behind by Broncos corner Aqib Talib prompting an official to throw a yellow flag and award the Rams 15 more yards for a personal foul.
The Rams failed to capitalize on their good field position and after three more plays kicker Greg Zuerlein came out for his second attempt of the day/preseason. It was a a 38-yard kick. And it was good. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-rams-6-broncos-0-after-aqib-talib-1472349072-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/7eaa9a979c6e14987d809a5ba4b7b532cb11f68d8bae73fa245df6ce7073a8c8.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Pedro Moura"
]
| 2016-08-28T20:49:15 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fangels%2Fla-sp-angels-tigers-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c349f5/turbine/la-sp-angels-tigers-20160828-snap | en | null | Tyler Skaggs bounces back to lead Angels to 5-0 win over Tigers | null | null | www.latimes.com | Tyler Skaggs’ strong start to his recovery from elbow surgery thudded in recent weeks, the 25-year-old left-hander’s season starting to resemble the up-and-down campaign he had before the ligament injury in 2014.
His Sunday start at Comerica Park, then, marked an acceleration on the old path. Skaggs fired six scoreless innings as the Angels beat Detroit, 5-0, to secure their first winning road trip since mid-May.
The Angels (55-73) pounded five consecutive grounders to begin the game. They resulted in five outs, two on an Andrelton Simmons double play. They could not convoke anything worthwhile until the fifth inning, when Simmons singled and Jefry Marte walloped a fastball from Anibal Sanchez out of the field of play.
In the sixth inning, they strung together a series of singles. First was Mike Trout, who shot one up the middle. Albert Pujols next knocked a sinking liner to center; Cameron Maybin was at first ruled to have caught it, but Pujols refused to leave first base until the Angels asked for a replay review.
It made for an odd scene at the base, as Pujols, Trout and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera all stood within close proximity. The three men have combined for six most valuable player awards.
Eighty seconds later, Pujols’ act of defiance was vindicated. C.J. Cron quickly followed with a single to load the bases, and Simmons and Marte launched subsequent sacrifice flies.
Rookie and Michigan native Nick Buss doubled to bring home the final run.
Skaggs struck out Ian Kinsler to start, and then survived a deep fly ball off Maybin’s bat. There would be one more deep fly, but otherwise Skaggs sliced up the Tigers offense.
The curveball command he lost during each of his previous starts never departed his arsenal. He repeatedly plopped his 93-95 mph fastball on the corners, and then weaved in the curveball during moments where the hitters could not afford to bet on it leaving the strike zone.
He struck out six. He walked two, hit a batter and gave up two hits, both by Cabrera. The only veritable trouble occurred after Cabrera doubled to open the fourth inning. Victor Martinez pushed him to third, but Skaggs struck out J.D. Martinez. He walked Justin Upton and then induced a groundout from Casey McGehee.
After six innings and 91 pitches -- his earned-run average sinking almost a full run to 4.75 — Skaggs was removed for a series of right-handed relievers. First was Mike Morin, then Jose Valdez and Deolis Guerra. The three yielded two hits and one walk between them.
[email protected]
Twitter: @pedromoura | http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-tigers-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/e4e2190aedad3372b7ac9af33b0417f4a7ad17f4175e339514db60e4c51ce8b0.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Lance Pugmire"
]
| 2016-08-28T04:49:21 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fboxing%2Fla-sp-boxing-guerrero-peralta-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c26be0/turbine/la-sp-boxing-guerrero-peralta-20160827-snap | en | null | Robert Guerrero drops split decision to David Peralta | null | null | www.latimes.com | Robert Guerrero admits the end of his career is nearing, and in losing a split decision to Argentinian David Peralta on Saturday, the finish line has moved closer.
Relying on the advantages of an extra four inches of height, Peralta (26-2-1) rallied to win narrowly by scores of 115-113, 113-115 and 116-112 at Honda Center.
“I’m a taxi driver, and I drove to victory,” Peralta said. “I told myself this was the last fight of my life. I gave it 100%.”
His promoter said Peralta will resume fighting after this triumph.
Peralta found a way to frustrate Guerrero after the opening rounds, stepping back from body punches he’d absorbed earlier and scoring from distance.
Even though Gilroy’s former two-division champion Guerrero, 33, delivered the defining punch of the 12th round, he couldn’t make up lost ground.
Guerrero addressed the height by devoting attention to pounding Peralta’s body in the first round.
Encouraged by the success, the southpaw let power punches fly in the third and cleanly struck Peralta in the head, gut and chest while sweeping the first four rounds.
Peralta then made use of his reach advantage and found Guerrero with straight rights in the middle rounds to cut the deficit.
He then appeared to have knocked down Guerrero with back-to-back punches that backed a falling Guerrero into a neutral ring post, which should’ve been ruled a knockdown unless referee Ray Corona believed tangled feet caused the descent.
In a meeting of two veterans who took a year off, Freddy Hernandez defeated Alfredo Angulo in a middleweight bout by unanimous decision, 98-92, 97-93, 97-93.
Mexico City’s Hernandez (32-8) steadily beat Angulo (24-6) to the punch in the early going, but “El Perro” didn’t budge, continuing to throw his heavier blows.
A series of Angulo punches in the fifth round backed Hernandez and cut him on the left eyelid, a red area puffing under the eye in the sixth as Angulo urged more toe-to-toe action from his 37-year-old foe.
Hernandez responded, out-boxing Angulo down the stretch to win his fourth consecutive bout after losing six of seven from 2010-14.
Earlier, super-welterweight Terrell Gausha’s power advantage, jab and schooling began to shine in the later rounds, and that separation was shown when judges Jerry Cantu and Jonathan Davis awarded Gausha a 97-93 edge over New York’s Steve Martinez while judge Zachary Young had it even, 95-95.
Martinez repeatedly brought pressure to the unbeaten Gausha, showing little yield to punches he’d take during the first half of the fight while pounding the 2012 Olympian’s body and twice backing him with blows to the head in the sixth. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/boxing/la-sp-boxing-guerrero-peralta-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/d2fe827ecd87e036b9a256be28d7440292b3d33187d8cba02be64563a8fdb9cd.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T00:49:37 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-drake-rihanna-billboard-1472424818-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c37991/turbine/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-drake-rihanna-billboard-1472424818 | en | null | How big is Drake's love for Rihanna? Billboard size | null | null | www.latimes.com | Rihanna and Drake perform at the Grammy Awards in 2011.
Nothing says you're crushing on someone like a hundreds-of-square-feet love note, which is exactly what Drake bought for Rihanna the other day.
"Congratulations to Rihanna from Drake and Everyone at OVO," it reads, referencing OVO Sound, the label founded by the "Hotline Bling" singer.
Congrats are definitely in order, as Rihanna will be honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at Sunday's MTV Music Video Awards.
"When he extra [heart]," Bad Gal Riri wrote Friday on Instagram, captioning a shot of the blue board filled with white cursive writing and the OVO owl logo. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-drake-rihanna-billboard-1472424818-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/d7bd9ffb1b76a082e9d023134b52c8255989ef269217ed0a414f4fd65a42c2a6.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"John Myers"
]
| 2016-08-30T00:49:43 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fpolitics%2Fla-pol-sac-polling-place-replaced-vote-centers-20160823-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bb9e83/turbine/la-pol-sac-polling-place-replaced-vote-centers-20160823-snap | en | null | Voting will never be quite the same in California if lawmakers pass reforms | null | null | www.latimes.com | Sweeping legislation at the state Capitol would make the future of California elections dependent on a major expansion of absentee ballots, one that would give local officials the power to close thousands of neighborhood polling places.
In their place, counties would open temporary elections offices known as “vote centers” sprinkled throughout communities, locations offering a wide variety of elections services including early voting and same-day voter registration as well as a limited number of in-person voting booths.
“We're trying to make it easier for people to participate, given the complexities of modern life,” said state Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), the author of Senate Bill 450.
The proposal was passed by the Assembly on Tuesday on a party-line vote. It now heads to the state Senate and faces an Aug. 31 deadline to make it to Gov. Jerry Brown for his ultimate signature or veto.
Caption Protest outside Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Caption Gov. Jerry Brown criticizes Donald Trump and his 'acolytes' on climate change In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics
Allen and SB 450’s supporters say the plan represents a significant rethinking of the election experience for Californians. They point out that the many complaints from voters during the June primary — including polling place mistakes and registration errors — are perhaps the best argument for why change is long overdue.
“I think it was very clear the June primary really exposed the weaknesses in our current system,” said Dean Logan, registrar of voters in Los Angeles County. “Our current system and infrastructure are failing.”
SB 450 would offer each of California’s 58 counties the chance to embrace an alternative to traditional elections. In most of those counties, every registered voter would receive a ballot in the mail and polling places would be scrapped. Voters would be able to turn in ballots either at secure drop boxes placed around the county or at the new “vote center” locations.
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Some of those vote centers would be open at least 10 days before election day, and would allow last-minute registration, a check of existing registration status and the ability to cast a vote in person even if the voter lives in a different city inside county lines. The bill says counties should work together at transporting the ballot of a voter who lives in Ventura County, for example, and mistakenly casts a ballot in Kern County.
“From a voter choice standpoint, all of a sudden you have the choice to go any vote center in your county,” said Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who is urging legislators to send the bill to the governor’s desk. The bill is slated to get its final vote in the Assembly this week, and although lawmakers have been generally supportive, many have said they want to see the final details before making a decision.
Unlike traditional polling places, the vote centers are envisioned as staffed by paid workers with more than the few hours of training normally given to temporary poll workers. Elections officials who have endorsed SB 450 say they envision the sites as one-stop-shopping for voters in convenient locations like retail districts and downtown business zones.
I think it was very clear the June primary really exposed the weaknesses in our current system. — Dean Logan, registrar of voters in Los Angeles County
Logan said he could even see a few mobile vote centers set up for a pre-election weekend at places like the Rose Bowl.
“This is an entirely new model of voting that’s designed with the voter in mind,” he said.
Still, SB 450 envisions far fewer vote centers than the polling places mandated by existing law. Even though vote centers would be open for more days, in some cases it could mean a 90% reduction in locations where a voter can cast an in-person ballot on election day.
The formulas in the bill language would allow Los Angeles County, which had more than 4,500 neighborhood polling places June 7, to open as few as 100 early vote centers for elections starting in 2020. In the final three days of early voting and on election day itself, there would need to be about 500 vote centers spread throughout the county.
“I’m frankly surprised that there has not been a more robust discussion in the Legislature about whether it’s a good idea to eliminate polling places,” said Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation.
Although her organization is officially neutral on SB 450, Alexander said such a major change might have been better crafted as a pilot project in a select few counties to see how voters would react — and not something that, if signed into law, could be used in every county in California in as few as four years.
The proposal was inspired by Colorado’s move from traditional polling places in 2013. But unlike Colorado, the California shift would allow counties to decide between “opting in” or continuing to conduct traditional elections — a concession supporters admit was due to the cost of a statewide mandate, and a flexibility that Alexander said could prove troublesome.
Are you an independent voter in California? Not if you checked this box »
“Some counties will adopt this new model and others will not,” she said. “We think this could create more voter confusion.”
If it becomes law, SB 450 would allow for only gradual change. A handful of counties including Orange County would be allowed to adopt the new system for the 2018 elections. All other counties would be allowed to replace polling places with vote centers in 2020.
Los Angeles County, home to as many voters as some U.S. states, would be treated differently from every other county. Although the county could begin eliminating polling places as soon as 2020, SB 450 does not require every one of its voters to be mailed a ballot until 2024. That would mean over four years, some Los Angeles County residents would be forced to use one of the vote centers to cast a ballot.
Logan said that he’s heard the criticisms that too few vote centers in California’s most traffic-plagued region could leave Los Angeles voters with too few options, and that it was likely the county would offer substantially more than the 500 mandated facilities. | http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-polling-place-replaced-vote-centers-20160823-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f1da00ae348d6b6fc056f3ffc3228eec42c6d6b791e545b509c004b2a9adfb4e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-29T20:49:57 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-best-prep-all-star-team-is-coming-to-socal-on-saturday-img-academy-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: Best prep all-star team is coming to SoCal on Saturday _ IMG Academy | null | null | www.latimes.com | IMG Academy from Bradenton, Fla., is coming to Southern California on Saturday to take on Corona Centennial at 7:30 p.m at Mission Viejo as part fo the Honor Bowl.
IMG is about as close to an all-star team as you're going to find. They're part of the Florida High School Athletic Assn., which makes them legal to play a CIF team.
From last year's football roster, there were players from 21 different states, plus Puerto Rico. There were also players from Japan, Germany and Canada.
This year's team has players from 26 different states, plus Sweden, Mexico, Australia, Panama, Bolivia and Canada.
On this year's team, 17 of the players are ranked in ESPN's top 300 football prospects. Among the players is receiver Brian Highower, who played at Calabasas last season.
Centennial Coach Matt Logan joked how how he hopes none of his players decide to move to Florida next year.
Centennial, though, still should give IMG a very good game with its high-powered offense.
On Friday night at Mission Viejo, Oaks Christian will play Pennsylvania St. Joseph's at 5 p.m. and Mission Viejo will play Oak Hills at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Gardena Serra will play New Jersey St. Joseph at noon, followed by Clayton Valley vs. Helix at 4 p.m.
Here's the link to ticket information.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-best-prep-all-star-team-is-coming-to-socal-on-saturday-img-academy-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/513274df9b9bf45f292512e85c908a8c96a5344fbf3794468ae7e736e194270a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T02:49:34 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-beyonce-joined-by-mothers-of-black-1472434042-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c3937b/turbine/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-beyonce-joined-by-mothers-of-black-1472434042 | en | null | Beyoncé joined by mothers of Black Lives Matter victims on red carpet | null | null | www.latimes.com | Beyoncé, party of 13!
The "Lemonade" singer not only hit the red carpet with daughter Blue Ivy in tow, but her entourage included several "mothers of the movement" and other women who appeared in some capacity on her visual album.
Notching 11 nominations for videos from her incendiary 2016 release, Bey, clad in a fluttery Francesco Scognamiglio confection, was flanked by the mothers of police violence victims Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, and Trayvon Martin. The women fostered the Black Lives Matter movement and several of them appeared in Bey's video "Freedom" holding portraits of their deceased kin.
Musicians Chloe x Halle, model Winnie Harlow, actress Quvenzhané Wallis and a few others also joined the superstar. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-beyonce-joined-by-mothers-of-black-1472434042-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/234c88f33f9a04873d03b3e78c12b5157da32db01b5235e4278f53a61fddc90c.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T18:49:00 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fpolitics%2Fessential%2Fla-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-california-politics-podcast-a-climate-1472321372-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1d8a3/turbine/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-california-politics-podcast-a-climate-1472321372 | en | null | California Politics podcast: A climate-change deal plus a look at the Legislature's final three days | null | null | www.latimes.com | Welcome to Essential Politics, our daily feed on California government and politics news. We've got a number of big stories that we're following:
We've also got a new bill tracking page for some of this month's biggest state Capitol debates.
Find the July Essential Politics archives here.
Be sure to follow us on Twitter for more, or subscribe to our free daily newsletter and the California Politics Podcast | http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-california-politics-podcast-a-climate-1472321372-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/2a4f1d976c431f3da839b62a8f2261ac523d2f05d93275adbff0b8bf5c541dbe.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:49:54 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fla-fi-apple-ireland-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5677b/turbine/la-fi-apple-ireland-20160830-snap | en | null | European Union: Apple must pay $14.5 billion in back taxes to Ireland | null | null | www.latimes.com | Apple will have to pay up to $14.5 billion in back taxes, plus interest, to Ireland after the European Union found Tuesday that it received illegal tax benefits over 11 years.
The ruling is the latest — and biggest — salvo in the EU Executive Commission's battle to have multinationals pay their fair share in the region.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said a three-year investigation found Ireland granted such lavish tax breaks to Apple that the multinational's effective corporate tax rate on its European profits dropped from 1% in 2003 to a mere 0.0005% in 2014.
That last tax rate meant that for each 1 million euros in profits, Apple paid just 50 euros in taxes, Vestager told a news conference.
"Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies. This is illegal under EU state aid rules," Vestager said.
"Ireland must now recover the unpaid taxes in Ireland from Apple for the years 2003 to 2014 of up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion), plus interest," the Commission said in a statement.
The Irish government denied granting favorable fiscal treatment to the maker of the iPhone and other consumer electronics products, computer software and online services. "Ireland's position remains that the full amount of tax was paid in this case and no state aid was provided," an Irish government statement said. "Ireland does not do deals with taxpayers."
The Irish finance minister, Michael Noonan, said he would seek approval from the Irish Cabinet to appeal the EU Commission's ruling to European courts.
"It is important that we send a strong message that Ireland remains an attractive and stable location of choice for long-term substantive investment," Noonan said. "Apple has been in Ireland since the 1980s and employs thousands of people in Cork."
There was no immediate reaction from Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, Calif. A statement from the U.S. government was expected later Tuesday.
In a white paper made public last week, the U.S. Treasury Department accused the European Union of using a different set of criteria to judge cases involving American companies, calling the potential penalties "deeply troubling." | http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-apple-ireland-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/9252a33759b5a3a5be70cb3996e611f627eaf9848b825683e044c5c20857e86d.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T02:49:31 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-broncos-trevor-siemian-throws-some-1472348629-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Broncos' Trevor Siemian throws some passes, but Denver still has to punt | null | null | www.latimes.com | The Broncos took a touchback to start on their own 25 yard line before calling on quarterback Trevor Siemian to use his arm.
Siemian threw a deep pass over the middle to Demaryius Thomas on his first throw, but the ball fell incomplete. No matter. He tried it at a shorter distance, but found the same result.
He had better luck with tight end Emmanuel Sanders, connecting on an 11-yard throw on third down for a first.Siemian went to the Thomas well one more time with a deep throw to the left, which the wideout caught only he was out of bounds.
He threw again on third, but Thomas came down short of a first. Denver tried running, but again came up one yard short. Turnover on downs. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-broncos-trevor-siemian-throws-some-1472348629-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/00734f27437bd3c1565bf385ae9e005f20f7e000c0822fa580e267e31c8ef6c5.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T18:48:59 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Folympics%2Fla-sp-oly-rio-2016-two-guinea-athletes-do-not-return-home-1472317295-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1c7f9/turbine/la-sp-oly-rio-2016-two-guinea-athletes-do-not-return-home-1472317295 | en | null | Two Guinea athletes do not return home after Rio Olympics | null | null | www.latimes.com | Mamadama Bangoura carries the flag of Guinea during the opening ceremony for the Rio Olympics on Aug. 5.
The head of Guinea's Olympic delegation says two athletes did not return to the West African nation after competing at the Rio Olympics.
Atef Chaloub said Saturday that swimmer Amadou Camara disappeared 48 hours before the team's scheduled departure. He said Mamadama Bangoura, who competed in judo, also did not return to Guinea, having disappeared after leaving a message saying she wanted to “try her luck” abroad.
A friend of Bangoura's, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid punishment for failing to stop her from fleeing, said Bangoura was ashamed she didn't earn a medal and wanted to try “working in a developed country.”
More than a dozen African athletes — including some from Guinea — did not return home after the London Olympics in 2012. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-oly-rio-2016-two-guinea-athletes-do-not-return-home-1472317295-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/90af2f7b259527f08d8e6519b57dcd8f7f54ce59eff8d11380b0f525891e271c.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Emily Alpert Reyes",
"David Zahniser"
]
| 2016-08-30T20:50:06 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-housing-settlement-disabled-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5e4cb/turbine/la-me-ln-housing-settlement-disabled-20160828-snap | en | null | L.A. to spend more than $200 million to settle suit on housing for disabled | null | null | www.latimes.com | Los Angeles will spend more than $200 million over the next decade to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that the city failed to provide enough apartments for people with disabilities in its publicly funded housing developments.
Under a deal approved Tuesday by the City Council, city officials will be required to ensure that 4,000 units are accessible to people who use wheelchairs, have hearing impairments or live with other disabilities. The city could reach that goal by constructing new apartments, redesigning existing ones or demonstrating that units that were already built are, in fact, accessible.
Moments after the council voted, Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a statement saying that the city “stands for inclusiveness and access for all.”
"If we have fallen short of that commitment, we need to fix it as quickly as possible,” Garcetti said. “This settlement allows us to resolve a long-standing legal issue with a predictable level of investment. More importantly, we are working to meet the needs of our disabled community now and for decades to come.”
Michael Allen, a lawyer for three nonprofit groups that sued the city, called the agreement “the largest accessibility settlement ever reached involving affordable housing.”
“It will send a strong, positive message to cities all over the country that their housing programs must be accessible,” Allen said.
The settlement puts Los Angeles on the hook for another costly, multiyear legal payout centering on facilities for the disabled: Last year, city lawmakers agreed to spend $1.3 billion over 30 years on sidewalk repairs — ending a lawsuit from advocates who argued that broken walkways were a nightmare for wheelchair users.
The latest deal will end a legal challenge filed in 2012 by Independent Living Center of Southern California, Fair Housing Council of San Fernando Valley, and Communities Actively Living Independent and Free. The dispute focused on apartments that were supposed to be built for the disabled in more than 700 affordable housing projects — buildings with nearly 47,000 units — approved over nearly three decades, city officials said.
The three nonprofits argued that the city and its redevelopment agency had flouted state and federal anti-discrimination laws as they provided public money to affordable housing developments. Such buildings were typically constructed by private developers or nonprofit groups and financed or otherwise assisted by the city and its redevelopment agency.
Disabled residents reported going to apartment buildings that were advertised as accessible, only to find they weren’t, the lawsuit states. In some locations, apartments had doorways that were too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs. Bathrooms and kitchens were not built with enough room to accommodate wheelchair users.
Allen said that many apartments did not meet the higher accessibility standards established for housing built with government assistance, which require additional features such as lower countertops and grab bars in bathrooms to make them accessible to people with more complex or serious disabilities.
“They were not merely technical violations,” Allen said. “They were, in every instance that we studied, significant barriers to people with disabilities using those units, and in some cases the common areas leading to them.”
Advocates for the disabled had to divert time and resources to “counseling frustrated and aggrieved home seekers” and informing building owners that they were not following the law, the lawsuit said. The groups also said federal officials had found that the accessible apartments that did exist were frequently occupied by people without disabilities.
Under the settlement, the city is not admitting wrongdoing or conceding that it violated anti-discrimination laws. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, who helped negotiate the deal, said Los Angeles is taking steps to prevent any such problems in the future.
“This is a settlement where the biggest investment is going to go back to the community -- back to the disabled community, back to those who need affordable housing,” Santana said. “So Angelenos are really the biggest beneficiaries.”
Santana said Tuesday’s legal settlement could set the stage for a separate agreement ending a federal investigation over housing for disabled Angelenos. Five years ago, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development launched a probe into whether the city had failed to provide sufficient housing for the disabled in developments funded with taxpayer money over decades. At the time, city lawyers said that if violations were uncovered, Los Angeles could face financial penalties or a criminal investigation.
To carry out the settlement announced Tuesday, city officials will need to go into hundreds of buildings to determine whether the required number of units for the disabled were built – and if so, whether those units comply with current standards. At this point, city leaders do not know to what extent the city fell short.
“Until we actually go in and evaluate every unit and make that determination, we really can’t tell you,” Santana said.
Under the agreement, the city must spend an average of $20 million annually on the program and ensure that at least 2,655 of the 4,000 units are designed for wheelchair users.
The settlement will also require new affordable housing supported by the city to include a larger percentage of units for people with disabilities than is currently required. L.A. is also charged with training city housing staff and property managers about disability rights.
In addition to the $200 million, L.A. will also pay $4.5 million to the nonprofits that sued the city, plus up to $1 million in court costs and up to $20 million in attorneys’ fees.
The agreement is one in a string of major settlements that will saddle Los Angeles with financial obligations lasting for years. The council voted in March to spend up to $30 million over four years on job training and other programs, to conclude a class-action suit over curfews in city gang injunctions. A year earlier, city lawmakers agreed to spend at least $31 million per year on sidewalk repairs. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-housing-settlement-disabled-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/679a6b9711f7dd99bc689c2795287040b7d64f30d7e7fd24b4ce9afdfadc4963.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-26T18:51:10 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld%2Fla-fg-italy-quake-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c08748/turbine/la-fg-italy-quake-20160826-snap | en | null | Death toll rises to 278 in Italian earthquake | null | null | www.latimes.com | Italian authorities say the death toll in central Italy's devastating earthquake has risen to 278.
Civil protection officials gave the updated toll at a briefing Friday afternoon, adding that 238 other people caught up in the quake were rescued.
The death toll in the Arquata area of the earthquake zone has stabilized with 49 dead hailing from the region. Firefighting official Bruno Frattasi says there are no more people there unaccounted for, and efforts now were making sure all the dead were returned to their loved ones.
The situation remains more uncertain in the Amatrice area, where the vast majority of earthquake dead have come from. The mayor estimates at least 15 more people remain unaccounted for there.
Romania says at least 21 of its citizens are still missing in the earthquake zone.
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Crews find living among the dead as search goes on for survivors of Italy quake that killed hundreds | http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-italy-quake-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/5d657a8a6ff74f66734e520d25e8d132442a8d9317b3ad26c666df140c0dc548.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Emily Alpert Reyes"
]
| 2016-08-27T04:48:58 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-lawsuit-labonge-20160825-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf9704/turbine/la-me-ln-lawsuit-labonge-20160825-snap | en | null | L.A. sued over missing records tied to former councilman | null | null | www.latimes.com | Los Angeles is being sued by a nonprofit that sought records tied to former City Councilman Tom LaBonge, only to be told that there was nothing to turn over.
The First Amendment Coalition, a group that advocates for open government, argues that the records must have existed at some point — and were either wrongfully withheld or illegally destroyed. The lawsuit accuses the city of violating the California Public Records Act and improperly trashing records.
Peter Scheer, executive director of the group, said they wanted to show government personnel that “they can’t just toss documents into the wastebasket that, as public records, belong to the public.”
The legal battle is the latest turn in a longstanding controversy over the fate of documents kept by LaBonge and his staffers.
City records indicate LaBonge staffers requested that more than 100 boxes be destroyed when he left office last year.
Dozens of those boxes were later recovered and made public earlier this year by his successor, Councilman David Ryu, who allowed reporters and residents to leaf through salvaged documents that included planning files and letters from LaBonge constituents. But many more of the boxes were not found.
The episode raised questions about whether L.A. has been complying with state law, which generally allows city governments to destroy some records if lawmakers and the city attorney approve, but not if the documents are unduplicated and less than 2 years old. Attorneys have also brought up the missing boxes in court cases against the city, arguing that records important to their lawsuits could have been destroyed.
Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, said Friday that their office was reviewing the legal complaint and declined to comment further.
LaBonge said he was unaware of the First Amendment Coalition suit and denied that any public records had been destroyed. In the past, the former councilman has argued that any important documents would be available in other city departments and said that no one had told him to save anything.
Earlier this year, the First Amendment Coalition sought emails, letters and other communications sent to or from LaBonge in 2014 regarding three topics: the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the California Film Commission and a proposed development in Sherman Oaks.
The group sent its records request to City Council President Herb Wesson, whose office responded in March that it had no documents to provide. Wesson spokesman Vanessa Rodriguez, who had not yet seen the lawsuit Thursday, said their office had reached out to the city attorney’s office for details.
[email protected]
Follow me on Twitter at @LATimesEmily
UPDATES:
Aug. 26, 2 p.m.: This article has been updated with a statement from a city attorney's office spokesman.
This article was originally posted on Aug. 25. at 6:25 p.m. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lawsuit-labonge-20160825-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/cab46282228a7a0c0a34f048647e3872b436eecadd3c5fff1d17be544cc3e803.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-27T02:48:53 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fnationnow%2Fla-na-texas-beheading-refrigerator-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0e87d/turbine/la-na-texas-beheading-refrigerator-20160826-snap | en | null | Texas man charged with beheading wife after police visit | null | null | www.latimes.com | A Texas man is suspected of beheading his wife just hours after officers visited the couple to check on their welfare, police say.
Bellmead Police Sgt. Kory Martin says officers visited Davie Dauzat, 23, and his 21-year-old wife, Natasha, on Thursday at their mobile home in Bellmead after a relative called police. Officers found no trouble and left.
Martin says a relative called police again two hours later to say Dauzat had killed his wife. Police returned and found Natasha Dauzat had been decapitated. The couple's two toddlers were home, but not hurt.
McLennan County jail records show Dauzat was being held Friday on a murder charge. Bond is set at $500,000.
Bellmead is 80 miles south of Dallas.
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Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people? | http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-texas-beheading-refrigerator-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/cc1a5411a17dd1b3c60ca46d586925f1cfbd9b8ef73be6d1ff9c9eec7e0c222d.json |
[
"La Cañada",
"Sara Cardine"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:15:39 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fla-canada-valley-sun%2Fnews%2Ftn-vsl-me-pastor-20160824-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57be0e3d/turbine/tn-vsl-me-pastor-20160824 | en | null | Lutheran Church in the Foothills selects leader after 22-month, 11-candidate search | null | null | www.latimes.com | Scott Peterson was in ninth grade when the pastor of his church wrote him a letter suggesting he might make a good pastor himself someday, if that was a line of work he wanted to consider.
At the time, the young student had more pragmatic concerns.
"I filed the letter away and thought about 'how can I make the most money by doing the least amount of work?'" Peterson recalled, laughing. "I was thinking at that time about pursuing psychology because I understood an hour for a psychiatrist is only 50 minutes long."
But as the years progressed and Peterson — who'd grown up in a church-going Lutheran family just outside Minneapolis — grew more deeply into his faith, he came to think maybe his pastor had been onto something.
His decision to study religion and philosophy in college, and later seek an advanced degree from Minnesota's Luther Seminary, would begin a spiritual path that would lead Peterson to work first among remote, rural churches in Montana and later spend 17 years at Prince of Faith Lutheran Church in Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta.
Scott Peterson Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer Pastor Scott Peterson is the new minister at the Lutheran Church in the Foothills. Pastor Scott Peterson is the new minister at the Lutheran Church in the Foothills. (Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer) (Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)
Last week, that path brought Peterson, wife Gina and 13-year-old daughter Sophie to La Cañada's Lutheran Church in the Foothills. The church celebrated his first worship service to a full audience Sunday, ending a 22-month search for a permanent leader.
Anita Stoker, president of the Church Council and a member of the call committee charged with the task of selecting a new pastor, said church officials interviewed several candidates in the process of replacing longtime Pastor Bruce Johnson, who retired in 2014. While the search was on, Interim Pastor Jim Bullock led Sunday services.
Working with a list of preferences and requirements collected from a congregation-wide survey, the call committee was looking for a solid preacher who could convey complex spiritual teachings in a way that resonated with the general public.
"Over the course of 22 months, we interviewed 11 different pastors," Stoker said. "We wanted someone who'd be able to work well with both the older members of the church but would also be welcoming and inviting to young families that might be interested in joining our congregation."
Though he'd become close to his congregants in Calgary, Peterson requested to be considered for a church opening in the Southwest, because he wanted to be closer to his father, who winters in Arizona. When the family heard from the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommending a Los Angeles-area church, they were taken aback.
"Southern California wasn't even in our thought process because we knew this is one of the more difficult places for a pastor to get into," Peterson said, explaining how most senior leaders opt for churches in sunny climes.
After a remote video interview via FaceTime, and an in-person visit, Stoker said Peterson fit the committee's list of qualifications. In addition to having a strong background in Lutheran theology, the youthful candidate had a good sense of humor and natural way with people.
Now, the Petersons are in the process of finding a home and seeing that Sophie settles into classes at La Cañada High School 7/8. The pastor is learning the ropes at Lutheran Church in the Foothills and finding that the congregation's proliferation of native Midwesterners is making his arrival seem like a bit of a homecoming.
"We may be in Southern California, but there's a bunch of Minnesotans in the church — so that's sort of calmed our culture-shock fears," he said, adding, "This will be home for the next while."
--
Sara Cardine, [email protected]
Twitter: @SaraCardine | http://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/news/tn-vsl-me-pastor-20160824-story.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/9fb53382945f603685f898060a2379a653efce186cc6755b52f50aaac4d75763.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Deborah Vankin"
]
| 2016-08-28T00:49:22 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Farts%2Fla-et-cm-700-artists-group-photo-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c22b53/turbine/la-et-cm-700-artists-group-photo-20160827-snap | en | null | 700 women artists to gather at Hauser Wirth & Schimmel for group photo | null | null | www.latimes.com | When Hauser Wirth & Schimmel opened its sprawling gallery compound in the downtown Los Angeles arts district earlier this year, its inaugural exhibition,“Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947–2016,” generated a ton of buzz. The show closes over Labor Day weekend — but it won’t go out quietly.
To mark the occasion, more than 750 women from the L.A. arts community will gather Sunday morning in Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s courtyard for a group photograph. The 11 a.m. photo event, “Now Be Here” — which includes local artists, gallerists and curators — is the brainchild of Venice-based artist Kim Schoenstadt. It’s co-organized by Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s Head of Education, Aandrea Stang. The color photograph will be shot by artists Isabel Avila and Carrie Yury.
“The original impetus was simple: ‘This is a huge space and why don’t we get all the female and female-identifying artists together and take one big photo?’” Schoenstadt says. “I was thinking about the community aspect from a geeky, archival perspective.”
But Schoenstadt also hopes the event brings attention to issues of gender identity in the same way that the “Revolution in the Making” exhibition broached the conversation around women shaping and transforming sculpture.
“The act of showing up is political. When you have 700 female artists in one place, that is political by nature.”
Since event-planning for “Now Be Here” began, the RSVPs poured in, Schoenstadt says — the list is currently up to 768 and includes artists Catherine Opie, Alison and Betye Saar, Mary Kelly, Barbara T. Smith, Judie Bamber, and Liz Glynn.
Despite the ginormous number of participants, “Now Be Here” isn’t an attempt to be comprehensive, Schoenstadt says, but instead, inclusive. “If you identify as female and you’re a contemporary artist in Los Angeles, then you’re welcome to join,” she says. As such, she and Stang relied on “old school networking” to get the word out. “We started with a master list of 200-some names and asked those people to forward it on. From there we asked local galleries, who forwarded it to their artists. And we asked curators. It was sort of a three-tiered attempt to spread the word.”
During Sunday’s shoot, Avila and Yury will be perched on the roof, overlooking the Hauser Wirth & Schimmel courtyard and its single sculpture, Jackie Winsor’s “30 to 1 Bound Trees.” They’ll shoot with both a digital camera and a Hasselblad film camera. They’ll also create a time-lapse video to document their process.
The photo shoot itself won’t be accessible to the public, though the galleries will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day. “Revolution in the Making” includes nearly 100 works by 34 female artists from the post-World War II era to the present.
Hauser Wirth & Schimmel plans to release a digital copy of the group photograph Monday morning on its website and by request. Schoenstadt will eventually provide local museums with archival copies of the image, she says.
There’s also a Facebook group to gather other group photos of artists; and Schoenstadt created a web page to serve as a “research portal” with photographs and documents from Sunday’s event.
“I think it would be a cool thing if this happened for other women artists in other cities — I think they should steal the idea!” Schoenstadt says. “In this selfie culture, it’s nice to pull back and see the larger group.”
[email protected]
Follow me on Twitter: @DebVankin
Doug Aitken's 'Electric Earth' will shake the MOCA landscape
The Broad announces its first visiting special exhibit: 'Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors'
French artist to spend two months 'excavating' L.A. River for 'Eat the River' project
An L.A. art star turns 50: Gemini G.E.L. celebrates with a LACMA exhibition | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-700-artists-group-photo-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/86ab199deee0deb02f78206c4fdc06f7260542aa16a88167cdec53612f5727c2.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Howard Blume"
]
| 2016-08-31T10:49:58 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-edu-magnolia-charter-ties-to-gulen-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c6706d/turbine/la-me-edu-magnolia-charter-ties-to-gulen-20160829-snap | en | null | Head of Magnolia charter board says he was inspired by Gülen | null | null | www.latimes.com | The leader of a group of charter schools has made an admission about his connection to a Turkish imam that is bound to cause controversy but that he hopes ultimately will remove a dark cloud over his schools.
Umit Yapanel, president of the board of directors of Magnolia Public Schools, told The Times in an interview that he is a believer in the teachings of Fethullah Gülen, the popular Muslim cleric whom the Turkish government accuses of fomenting a failed coup attempt in July.
Yapanel likened Gülen’s moderate Islam to the teachings of Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic.
“He inspired me to serve, and those values are the same universally accepted values: women’s rights, free speech, the right to education, service to others,” he said.
Gülen, he said, is “the Islamic scholar of his time who interpreted the religion in a way to embrace anyone…. I’m proud of that heritage.”
The alleged connection of publicly funded charter schools to Gülen is one of the strangest side stories to emerge from the unrest in Turkey.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
After the one-day coup attempt fell apart, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan blamed the rebellion on Gülen, 75, who is living in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. Erdoğan demanded Gülen’s extradition and began a sweeping purge of alleged Gülen supporters inside and outside government.
But even before the coup attempt, an attorney hired by the Turkish government — and some other critics — were asserting that charters in numerous states, including the 10 run by Magnolia Public Schools, had improper ties to Gülen.
The most extreme allegations are that the well over 100 charter schools managed by first- or second-generation Turkish immigrants are controlled by Gülen or his close followers, who funnel U.S. taxpayer funds to the Gülen movement.
Charters are independently managed public schools that are exempt from some rules that govern traditional campuses.
“This is much deeper and darker than people familiar with the charter-school debate understand,” said attorney Robert Amsterdam, whose firm, according to federal filings, is being paid $50,000 a month by the Turkish government.
State and federal investigations have yet to proclaim any direct links between the schools and Gülen. Nor have they talked about taxpayer funds being secreted abroad. Past investigations, however, have turned up issues in contracting, management and hiring practices at schools with Turkish leadership.
One area of concern has been the reliance on a network of Turkish contractors to provide services to these schools, which is not illegal if the bidding for work is fair and the money is spent properly.
Magnolia’s use of a firm called Accord Institute for Educational Research attracted attention from L.A. Unified and the state auditor. Accord provides educational services for charters with Turkish leadership in several states.
A former Magnolia chief executive helped found Accord and later served as Accord’s CEO after his work at Magnolia. While he was at Magnolia, Accord secured a $700,000 contract for work with the charter, the state auditor reported in 2015.
Yapanel, Magnolia’s board president, acknowledged that he had a part-time job with Accord when he was board president of another charter in Colorado.
State and local auditors looking at Magnolia also unearthed a long list of poor financial practices. Citing these issues, L.A. Unified moved to shut down two Magnolia schools, which Magnolia thwarted by suing and then agreeing to improve management practices. The school cut ties with Accord.
Magnolia also turned over its chief executive position to Caprice Young, a former L.A. school board member who later headed the California Charter Schools Assn. Even some critics concede that Young has improved Magnolia’s business practices.
The state auditor was largely satisfied with Magnolia’s progress, although L.A. Unified has not yet closed its investigation and the state Education Department has opened another.
Yapanel, 39, who lives in Sunnyvale in the Bay Area, came to the United States to earn his doctorate at the University of Colorado Boulder. As a student, he was part of a small team that founded Lotus School for Excellence in Aurora, Colo., and he served as its board president for five years. His interest in education, he said, was in part a reaction to the rigid Turkish schooling model.
“Education can be limiting when you tell students there is one way to do things,” Yapanel said.
His primary employment has been as an engineer, most recently in the cellphone industry. He became involved with Magnolia, which opened its first school in 2002, as it was starting a school in Santa Clara. In 2012, the school’s leadership asked him to be board president. The current schools, which enroll 3,800 students, all are in Southern California.
The schools celebrate Turkish culture and some offer Turkish language instruction — but they do no proselytizing, officials said.
The schools have always garnered strong scores on state standardized tests.
Still, Magnolia’s operations — including any Gülen role — have merited scrutiny, said L.A. school board President Steve Zimmer.
“The question is how did that influence the practices and potentially the pedagogy of the people running these schools and the business practices of the organization,” he said. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-magnolia-charter-ties-to-gulen-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/06f2a0c193c8bd64e5d33384ebcbcd0be6f04bf9add7422e9a94c410e2ddfcc7.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Gary Klein"
]
| 2016-08-29T18:49:58 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Frams%2Fla-sp-rams-quinton-coples-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c479c8/turbine/la-sp-rams-quinton-coples-20160829-snap | en | null | Rams release defensive lineman Quinton Coples | null | null | www.latimes.com | Defensive lineman Quinton Coples, a former first-round draft pick by the New York Jets who was signed during the off-season, has been released by the Rams, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 75 players by Tuesday afternoon.
Coples, 26, was initially brought in by the Rams to play defensive end. He was moved to tackle a few weeks ago and forced two fumbles and had a sack in an exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coples played against the Denver Broncos on Saturday but did not have a tackle.
The 6-foot-6, 284-pound Coples played three-plus seasons for the Jets and half a season with the Miami Dolphins. He has 16½ career sacks.
The Rams also released offensive lineman Jordan Swindle and tight end Jake Stoneburner. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-quinton-coples-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/2ddc14c4901592843658b71fcddf414d483c96d8cb12ad356008befefcf92eab.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Amy Scattergood"
]
| 2016-08-29T22:50:04 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Ffood%2Fdailydish%2Fla-dd-border-grill-closes-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c49e65/turbine/la-dd-border-grill-closes-20160829-snap | en | null | Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken to close Border Grill in Santa Monica after 26 years | null | null | www.latimes.com | After more than 26 years, chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are closing their Santa Monica restaurant Border Grill. The pair will be opening a new restaurant, also in Santa Monica, hopefully by next year — and it won’t be a Border Grill. The lease was up on the 4th Street location, a festive Mexican restaurant and cantina near the Promenade, which the two chefs opened in 1990. This is where the pair not only served their signature Mexican dishes but filmed many episodes of their long-running Food Network cooking show, “Too Hot Tamales.”
“By our most recent calculation, we’ve handmade more than nine million tortillas on the comal in the window, mashed over 500 tons of avocados for guacamole and poured over 325,000 bottles of tequila – and counting,” the pair said in a statement.
Feniger and Milliken will officially close the doors in mid-October, but not before throwing a party — or a few of them. Look for throwback dishes and celebratory menus, as well as a final goodbye bash that, the chefs say, will likely resurrect the margarita-fueled conga line that marked the restaurant’s opening.
“We plan on having a nice big party,” said Milliken this morning, likely themed around Dia de los Muertos. “It’s just so fitting.”
But don’t think that Milliken and Feniger will be resting on their tequila-soaked laurels — or retiring. “I don’t think that’s ever in the cards,” said Milliken. “We just keep changing our roles.
Caption Jonathan Gold on the secret, super spicy Jazz burger at Jitlada Jonathan Gold dishes on the Jazz burger, an off-menu item at Jitlada in Thai town, a site of pilgrimage for spicy food lovers. Jonathan Gold dishes on the Jazz burger, an off-menu item at Jitlada in Thai town, a site of pilgrimage for spicy food lovers. Caption The Walker Inn: Malibu cocktail Lead bartender, Katie Emmerson, at The Walker Inn located at the back of the Normandie Club talks about the Malibu cocktail. Lead bartender, Katie Emmerson, at The Walker Inn located at the back of the Normandie Club talks about the Malibu cocktail.
“When we opened Border Grill, giant restaurants were all the rage,” said Milliken. “The whole city has changed so much. You don’t have to drive across town to find a great restaurant; you just look in your own neighborhood. We want to evolve the menu and the concept beyond what we started in 1990. It needs to have a new identity.”
Border Grill holds a particular place in the history of Los Angeles restaurants, as do the two chefs who opened it. The precursor to Border Grill was City Cafe, Feniger and Milliken’s first restaurant in Hollywood, where the classically trained chefs created a menu that crossed culinary cultures in a way that L.A. diners now take for granted. When City Cafe moved to larger quarters in 1985, the chefs opened the first incarnation of Border Grill in the City Cafe space, before eventually moving the new restaurant across town.
Feniger and Milliken have also opened other iterations of Border Grill, two in Las Vegas, one at LAX and one downtown (in the location of Ciudad, another of their earlier restaurants) and two Border Grill food trucks. When not cooking, both chefs have appeared on the Julia Child PBS series “Cooking With Master Chefs,” and on “Top Chef Masters”; they’ve also written a number of cookbooks and have been active in Share Our Strength, LGBT rights and other causes.
It’s quite a list of accomplishments, and probably a very good reason to raise a glass — and a green corn tamale.
Border Grill Santa Monica, 1445 4th St., Santa Monica, (310) 451-1655, bordergrill.com
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5 things you need to know about the Guerrilla Tacos restaurant coming to the Arts District | http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-border-grill-closes-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/48662a622704dd5bdfa1db4217cf87df717f9f90873efc1a7893b42d2122c3c3.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Christie D'Zurilla"
]
| 2016-08-30T14:49:36 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fla-et-mg-guy-pearce-baby-carice-van-houton-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c59862/turbine/la-et-mg-guy-pearce-baby-carice-van-houton-20160830-snap | en | null | Guy Pearce and Carice van Houton welcome a baby boy, say they plan to 'keep him' | null | null | www.latimes.com | Guy Pearce and Carice van Houten are now parents, The Times has confirmed — and their first-time baby announcement is equal parts cute and quirky.
“A cute little package arrived and told us his name's Monte Pearce,” the “Memento” actor tweeted Monday. “We think we're gonna keep him. Placenta smoothie anyone?”
Aww! And, um, eww …
“Both Carice and Monte are doing very well,” said a rep for Van Houten, the Dutch actress who plays Melisandre on “Game of Thrones. The baby was born last week, though they’re keeping the exact birth date “L.A. Confidential” for now.
Cute fact: When the couple announced in March that they were expecting a child, they were already anticipating some “shadowbaby” jokes. “GoT” fans will understand why.
Aussie actor Pearce, 48, and Van Houten, who turns 40 next week, worked together on the Western thriller "Brimstone,” which will premiere next month at the Venice Film Festival.
They sparked relationship rumors early this year when were photographed grocery shopping together in Los Angeles, E! News reported. In January 2015, Pearce split from Kate Mestitz, his high school sweetheart, following 18 years of marriage. That couple announced their divorce last October.
Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ.
ALSO
Anna Chlumsky welcomes her second daughter with husband Shaun So
Homeland Security is investigating nude-photo cyberattack on Leslie Jones
Teyana Taylor is the star of Kanye West's 'Fade' video — and a whole lot more | http://www.latimes.com/la-et-mg-guy-pearce-baby-carice-van-houton-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/aa9cfa3785669d06394f47ddef09e3cdca610819512cfb88d41052a77c4b31e3.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Michael Eric Dyson"
]
| 2016-08-30T12:49:47 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fop-ed%2Fla-oe-dyson-nate-parker-20160831-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4ce3d/turbine/la-oe-dyson-nate-parker-20160831-snap | en | null | Understanding the Nate Parker scandal | null | null | www.latimes.com | The imbroglio now engulfing Nate Parker touches on some of our culture’s most explosive issues: the role of sports on college campuses, sex, alcohol abuse and race. Only when we see each of these as part of a volatile whole can we begin to judge Parker’s alleged crime.
Parker is the director of the forthcoming film “The Birth of a Nation,” a riveting portrait of the enslaved minister Nat Turner, who led a rebellion that killed nearly 60 whites. When Parker was a student wrestler at Penn State in the late 1990s, he and his teammate, Jean Celestin — who co-wrote “Birth of a Nation” — were charged, and tried, for the rape of a white female classmate. Parker and Celestin claimed the sex was consensual. The accuser claimed that she was severely intoxicated and therefore could not consent. Parker was acquitted at trial while Celestin was found guilty. Later his conviction was appealed, and prosecutors dropped the case.
There is little doubt that jock culture has been a bastion of male privilege for as long as there have been sports in our country. We hardly acknowledge it, but one of the perks of the male athlete is promiscuous sex. In every arena where professional sports are played, there are common scenes of engagement: Men contest each other on the floor, or field, and afterward, seek to outdo each other in the bedroom too.
Many women are willing to satisfy these athletes’ lust. The culture of male privilege is met by a culture of female pursuit and adoration, or, at the least, of enchantment and infatuation. Although football and basketball players are the biggest stars, wrestlers draw female attention too. For every star jock there’s a star cheerleader, or perhaps a model.
But there is a far more raucous pairing that is hardly discussed in polite society: the jock and the female fan, or the jock and several female fans, either in seemingly endless succession, or, often, at the same time, with one or more men, engaging in no-holds-barred sex. This story plays out in colleges across the nation more than we care to admit.
When alcohol is added to the mix, the cocktail can be lethal. When I was the equivalent of an assistant dorm head as a graduate student at Princeton in the mid-1980s, one of the most difficult problems we confronted was bringing student drinking under control. Alcohol was more than spirits; it was a spirit unto itself, a culture of overindulgence and deflection, a way of resolving, or at least lessening, riddles of existence, or intensifying the pain and suffering that the bottle promised to relieve but never quite seemed to do.
If a woman can’t give consent because she is intoxicated, the resulting sex is unquestionably rape. But excessive drinking often impairs the judgment of men and women who go on to have sex without a claim of sexual abuse. It is also the case that young people get intoxicated and have sex without either party remembering much of what they agreed to do before they drank. These matters are not so simple.
Race complicates the matter even more. After slavery, the myth took hold that black men lusted after white women. This belief helped to spark the rise of white terrorists determined to protect “their” women.
When white women embraced the taboo of interracial sex, they were often ostracized, even expelled, from white society. Black men were frowned upon for such actions, and when caught, often harassed, if not killed. Of course there has been a huge shift in the mores and folkways of our culture in the last half-century, but taboos persist, and Parker may have faced them in 1999.
So the controversy surrounding Parker brings together the perks of jock culture, with its chronic indifference to the lives of women, including claims of sexual violence, the culture of enchantment with athletes, the ample flow of alcohol, and the lure of interracial sex. That makes it exceedingly difficult to parse. But, in justly condemning toxic masculinity, we must not scapegoat Parker for widespread habits we would rather sweep under the carpet.
*
After he was charged with rape, Parker was indicted and tried before a nearly all-white jury. He was acquitted. It is legally true that he is not a rapist. Others conclude, however, that he is morally guilty of rape. But that is a harder case to make: the events of the night in question are in dispute. The accuser said Parker asked her out to a restaurant that night; he said she invited him. The accuser said she was grossly inebriated and unaware of what was happening; Parker said she was coherent, active and “all for it.” Some say that if Parker invited Celestin to join him in bed, the sex couldn’t have been consensual; but the unacknowledged frequency of sex between multiple partners makes that claim questionable.
Of course one of the hugely disconcerting facts of rape is that women’s words are not taken seriously – their views are often resented, or rejected, and their claims are not believed. That does not mean, however, that in every case where the facts are murky, the benefit of the doubt should go to the accuser. Although the courts are vastly imperfect, they remain the arbiter of such matters.
Neither can we dismiss the appearance of a racial double standard. While the American Film Institute recently decided to postpone a screening of “The Birth of a Nation,” it has feted Woody Allen, who has also been accused of sexual abuse. (He was investigated and not charged.) Roman Polanski received an honorary Oscar despite having been charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl. He has been, since 1978, a fugitive from American justice.
The point is not to desegregate injustice and integrate the gallery of rogues. The point is that Parker is having his case relitigated in a court of public opinion – much like women who are denied justice to begin with and who pay the price with soiled reputations and questioned motives.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. For those who think he is guilty, he is getting what he deserves. While they may be sure they are right, their feelings and beliefs cannot by themselves form the basis of a reasonable insistence that Parker now do penance for a sin for which he was cleared.
I do not believe that there is a widespread conspiracy to deny Parker his due because he has directed an astonishing account of a slave rebellion. I do believe, however, that many will feel threatened by the film’s uncompromising exploration of black rebellion. Parker’s film brilliantly details the religiously inspired resistance to white supremacy that is a necessary corrective to the existing cinematic record. His film snatches the title from D.W. Griffith’s troubled, and racist, classic – that, ironically, portrays black men as rapists of white women who need to be contained – and offers America a new lens on a forgotten landscape. | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-dyson-nate-parker-20160831-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f1aef114ccde05b7398ac43e70c4b4fc2e74959e826e9ddc453d8cd37e78b2da.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T04:49:41 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-rams-struggle-then-1472355873-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Rams struggle, then punt | null | null | www.latimes.com | If Sean Mannion is to manufacture a comeback in Denver, he'll have less than a quarter to do it.
Mannion's first pass went behind running back Terrance Magee on second down. Magee had just ran for five yards.
The Rams were hit with a delay of game penalty negating Magee's work and then Mannion's pass to running back Chase Reynolds went for only six yards. Just four-yards short of the first down.
Johnny Hekker came out for another punt, sticking the Broncos on their own 34-yard line. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-rams-struggle-then-1472355873-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/50749a780d1143507b6ce858156e3ee5c2197dbaf9bef24a5eb435b964585c5d.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jesse Dougherty"
]
| 2016-08-29T22:50:01 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fmore%2Fla-sp-big-12-football-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4a88c/turbine/la-sp-big-12-football-20160829-snap | en | null | Big 12 Conference: Oklahoma looks like a leader | null | null | www.latimes.com | Oklahoma might have the two most explosive players in the Big 12 Conference, quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Samaje Perine, which is one reason why the Sooners are ranked No. 3 in the nation.
But beyond Oklahoma, it’s difficult to determine which teams might be the league’s other contenders.
Texas is planning to start a first-year freshman at quarterback. Baylor has talent but problems that span well beyond football still to sort out. Texas Christian is turning to Trevor Knight at quarterback, even though he had nearly as many passes intercepted as went for touchdowns in his last full season at Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 10 games last year, but overcoming a young defense could be a problem.
A look at how the conference shapes up:
Top story line
Baylor: The aftermath
Coach Jim Grobe will look to steer the Bears out of a dark period, in which Art Briles and a handful of university officials were fired after an investigation revealed widespread failings pertaining to multiple sexual assault allegations, including some against football players.
Baylor, as a football program and university, has a lot to figure out away from the field in 2016. How it does that will say a lot about whether its now-tarnished reputation can be repaired going forward.
Top players
Offense
♦ Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Oklahoma: The Sooners are loaded on offense, which makes Mayfield’s potential seem limitless. He passed for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns with only seven interceptions last season, and also ran for 405 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be able to pick his poison among receivers Mark Andrews, Dede Westbrook and Geno Lewis, plus a stable of talented running backs.
♦ Samaje Perine, running back, Oklahoma: Perine has been tearing it up since the start of 2014, yet still floats a bit under the national radar. He rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman, followed that up with 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore. However, his last name isn’t Fournette or McCaffrey, and he operates as but one working part in a multifaceted offense.
Defense
♦ Malik Jefferson, linebacker, Texas: Jefferson was the conference freshman of the year last season and he should be the centerpiece of a Longhorns unit that returns eight starters.
♦ Josh Carraway, defensive end, Texas Christian: The 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior had nine sacks last season among 11.5 tackles for losses. He is a big reason why the Horned Frogs can be tough against the pass or run.
Newcomers
♦ Shane Buechele, quarterback, Texas: Charlie Strong is on the hot seat with an 11-14 record in his two seasons as coach of the Longhorns, so it would be reasonable if he was hesitant to immediately start this dual-threat, first-year freshman. But Buechele has a pedigree — his father, Steve, was a veteran major leaguer and is now bench coach for the Texas Rangers — and his transition could be eased by a strong rushing attack and an experienced Texas defense.
♦ Barry J. Sanders, RB, Oklahoma State: Sanders does not go by Barry Sanders Jr., and he doesn't run like his father, either. Dad dominated at Oklahoma State before being selected third overall in the 1989 NFL Draft. Son played behind Christian McCaffrey at Stanford, never rushing for more than 315 yards in any of three seasons with the Cardinal. However, he joins Oklahoma State as a graduate student and is capable of bolstering the Cowboys running game.
The games
Best during nonconference
♦ Notre Dame at Texas, Sunday
♦ Ohio State at Oklahoma, Sept. 17
Best during conference
♦ Oklahoma State at Baylor, Sept. 24: This early season match-up could reveal who will rise to challenge Oklahoma late in the season. Baylor faces Oklahoma on Nov. 12; Oklahoma State on Dec. 3.
♦ Oklahoma at Texas Christian, Oct. 1: The Sooners have a bye week after hosting Ohio State, then jump right into their Big 12 opener against the Horned Frogs. TCU’s defense, a team strength, will face a huge test in Oklahoma.
You read it here
Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State's junior quarterback, will be the conference’s best passer and will play his way into Heisman Trophy contention. The Cowboys have five returning starters on the offensive line and a corps of outstanding receivers. The Big 12 quarterback spotlight is on Baker Mayfield, and the national quarterback spotlight is on Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and UCLA’s Josh Rosen. There’s not a lot of room for Rudolph at the top, but he has an opportunity to create some.
[email protected]
Follow Jesse Dougherty on Twitter @dougherty_jesse | http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-big-12-football-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/68285a70b2938bb780a0d68d7d3e91ceebb54358db01b8b1d54eb8927f624171.json |
[
"Daily Pilot",
"Steve Virgen"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:16:40 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fdaily-pilot%2Fsports%2Ftn-dpt-me-0824-olympians-return-20160823-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bd4670/turbine/tn-dpt-me-0824-olympians-return-20160823 | en | null | Olympic champs return home to Orange County | null | null | www.latimes.com | The loud chant began at the bottom of the stairs near a baggage pickup area at John Wayne Airport: "USA! USA! USA!"
The fan frenzy Tuesday morning for returning local Olympians was fitting for Orange County, which might as well be "Water Polo County," considering it's a hotbed of the sport that produced a gold medal for the United States at the just-completed Olympic Games in Brazil.
Newport Beach was well-represented on the championship women's water polo team, with home-grown athletes Maddie Musselman, from the Port Streets in Corona del Mar, and Kaleigh Gilchrist, a beach girl who loves surfing as much as water polo. Team captain Maggie Steffens lives with Gilchrist and her family in Newport Beach.
Their flight from Houston also included members of the bronze medal-winning U.S. men's volleyball team, including Coach John Speraw, former head man at UC Irvine, and David Smith, a former UCI player.
The players' families and friends greeted their favorite athletes with flowers, posters and huge smiles.
Dan Klatt, an assistant coach for the U.S. women's water polo team and head coach of the UCI women, was thrilled to reunite with his family, including his twin 4-month-old sons, Luke and Skyler. Klatt's wife, Natalie, had been in Rio de Janeiro as well and was just as happy to have the family back together.
Klatt — as with other coaches, including Chris Oeding, a former Corona del Mar High School standout — did not receive a medal. But he expressed happiness for the athletes and reveled in the reception at the airport.
"The last time when we came home from London [after a gold-medal win in the 2012 Olympics], Courtney [Matthewson] and I were the only two from Orange County on the flight, so it was neat to have this many people on the flight," Klatt said. "It was a great experience. I'm always reminded how great the U.S. is when you're away, and to even have people chanting it when you walk back in is even better."
Karen Musselman was excited to see her daughter receive such a grand welcome. Karen brought along her youngest daughter, Ella, to support Maddie.
Karen said she was overwhelmed while watching Maddie and her teammates receive the gold medal in Brazil.
"It was an incredible experience and one that I'm sure my entire family will cherish forever," she said.
For Maddie, the party continued after leaving the airport. She was surprised when she got home to find neighbors and friends waiting. She posed for countless photos.
She and her teammates have been ambassadors for water polo and hope the U.S. team's two straight Olympic gold medals will bring the sport more popularity.
"The tournament we had in Texas [earlier this year], we could see the kids there wanting to be a part of it," Maddie said. "The sport is continuing to grow all over the U.S. I think it's really cool to see this many people here to congratulate us."
Maddie's father, Jeff, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who is now a sports agent, said his daughter is to receive $25,000 for the gold-medal victory as part of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Operation Gold program. Though she is an incoming freshman at UCLA, she can receive the money as part of an agreement with the NCAA, he said.
Gilchrist, who played for USC, will be happy to have that money as she embarks on a journey as a surfer. Surfing, after all, will be part of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Gilchrist said she is headed to Costa Rica, Japan and Australia for surf competitions.
She said she's thrilled to help bring attention to water polo.
"From our outcome, hopefully we can spread the sport even more, past Orange County and into other states," she said. "It's always been a goal to show water polo to other parts of the world. And I think we did a good job of that with how we played the past few weeks." | http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports/tn-dpt-me-0824-olympians-return-20160823-story.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/320479723b5e9f2f7f64ac0d039e98aa1488e599bb4fe13c8ac727e12e1a3f8e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mike Hiserman"
]
| 2016-08-29T00:49:29 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fmore%2Fla-sp-top-college-games-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c3708c/turbine/la-sp-top-college-games-20160828-snap | en | null | Stanford vs. Kansas State and Clemson at Auburn are among the top games of the week | null | null | www.latimes.com | UCLA and USC both get marquee matchups to start the college football season, with the No. 16 Bruins set to play Texas A&M at College Station, Texas, and the No. 20 Trojans matched against top-ranked Alabama at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. But opening weekend has a fair share of other intriguing faceoffs. Here are a few of them:
FRIDAY
Kansas State at No. 8 Stanford, 6 p.m., TV: Fox Sports 1.
The good news for Kansas State is that it has eight returning starters on defense. The bad news: That defense gave up an average of 452 yards and 31.5 points. So wish the Wildcats luck with Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, a missile who will be launching his Heisman Trophy campaign.
SATURDAY
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Houston at NRG Stadium in Houston, 9 a.m. TV: Channel 7.
Other than Notre Dame, Houston is the highest ranked of the non-Power Five conference programs, and the Cougars, coming off a 13-1 season and a rout over Florida State in the Peach Bowl, may be lower than they should be. This game has been promoted by the College Football Playoff — slogan: “The road to the playoff begins Labor Day Weekend” — with a comic book cover-style illustration produced by ESPN and Marvel. In it, for what it’s worth, the Cougar looks to have struck the first blow over a horse.
No. 5 Louisiana State vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., 12:30 p.m. TV: Channel 7.
If not Alabama, then who? LSU? ESPN liked this matchup — and maybe the site of the game — enough that it chose this one over ’Bama vs. USC for its “College GameDay” show. Wisconsin may have the best linebacker unit in the Big Ten Conference. But LSU has Leonard Fournette (no, make a run for the NFL).
No. 2 Clemson at Auburn, 6 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Auburn has already made a baffling call. In the clothing guide for home games it released a few weeks ago, the school urged its fans to wear orange to this game. Yes, that’s one of Auburn’s colors. It also happens to be Clemson’s primary color. OK, Auburn, watch out for this guy in orange: Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson. That other football school in Alabama would tell you he’s pretty good.
SUNDAY
No. 10 Notre Dame at Texas, 4:30 p.m. TV: Channel 7.
Here’s hoping the Texas Rangers’ game against Houston doesn’t go extra innings. It would be a shame if Rangers bench coach Steve Buechele missed the debut of his son, Shane, as quarterback for Texas. Shane, a freshman, might even start, though don’t be surprised if veteran Tyrone Swoopes gets the nod for the Longhorns. Notre Dame also expects to play two quarterbacks: DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire.
[email protected]
Twitter: @MikeHiserman | http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-top-college-games-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ef2524a8c0a81dcd5640f55b0615173b23dd1ea3a935591e396825711990d1e6.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-28T16:49:07 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-it-s-the-trinity-league-vs-the-mission-league-this-week-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: It's the Trinity League vs. the Mission League this week | null | null | www.latimes.com | There's going to be a mini tournament this week featuring the Trinity League against the Mission League in football.
Among the games on Friday: JSerra (1-0) at Alemany (1-0); Crespi (1-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (0-1) at Orange Coast College; Loyola (1-0) vs. Santa Margarita (0-1) at Saddleback College; Servite (1-0) vs. Bishop Amat (0-1) at Cerritos College.
Since each of the teams except Crespi are in Southern Section Division 1, the results will likely become very important come playoff time if any of the teams are on the bubble for a playoff spot. Just two teams out of the 18 Division 1 teams won't make the playoffs.
The games should provide a clearer understanding where teams are headed. Alemany handled Garfield last week in the debut of first-year Coach James Washington. Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez was raving about Alemany receivers Warren Jackson and Johnny Edwards.
JSerra has a rising quarterback in Matt Robinson, who made first-team all-Trinity League as a sophomore but still isn't considered by college recruiters in the upper echelon of quarterbacks.
Orange Lutheran fell to La Mirada last week in the debut of its new NFL-style offense featuring sophomore QB Ryan Hilinski. Crespi dominated an overwhelmed City Section team, Sylmar, using two quarterbacks.
Servite gets to face a Bishop Amat team that put up little opposition to Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in Southern California.
Loyola is still adjusting to the loss of its top running back, Drake Beasley, who transferred to La Canada and is still waiting to see whether he'll be declared eligible. Quarterback Sean O'Malley offers the Cubs an offensive spark. Santa Margarita is also adjusting to a new coach and new personnel.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-it-s-the-trinity-league-vs-the-mission-league-this-week-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/281a0531d62221bead2c1d29ecb9c2afc3d8452d0e50c3d14da98959ce8b7a27.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Brian Bennett"
]
| 2016-08-30T00:49:54 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fla-na-pol-trump-criminal-deportation-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c488c4/turbine/la-na-pol-trump-criminal-deportation-20160829-snap | en | null | What does Trump mean when he says he will deport 'criminal' immigrants first? | null | null | www.latimes.com | During a week of ping-ponging immigration stances, Donald Trump appears to be shifting his position from one which initially called for the deportation of all 11 million people here illegally to one that would focus on “criminal” immigrants.
Though it is true that some in the U.S. illegally have criminal records, the majority of those have violated only immigration laws or committed other nonviolent offenses, not the murders and assaults that Trump often brings up during stump speeches.
After a backlash from supporters worried he is backing down on a key campaign promise, Trump is now said to be reconsidering his change in policy. He is expected to outline his ideas Wednesday during a speech in Arizona.
What does Trump want to do?
It’s not entirely clear yet. Though he still plans to build a wall along the Mexico border, he began speaking in recent days about “softening” his policy. In a Fox News interview, he spoke about backing away from his earlier call to create a “deportation force” that would round up and kick out all immigrants in the country illegally, including their American-born children in some cases.
Caption Protest outside Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Caption Gov. Jerry Brown criticizes Donald Trump and his 'acolytes' on climate change In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics
In recent days, he has said he would instead focus deportations on those with criminal records. On his first day in office, Trump said, he plans to sign orders to speed up the removal of “criminal illegal immigrants” from the U.S.
“These international gangs of thugs and drug cartels will be — I promise you, from the first day in office, the first thing I’m going to do, the first piece of paper that I’m going to sign is — we’re going to get rid of these people, Day 1, before the wall, before anything," Trump said during a speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Trump hasn’t said what specific policy changes would help immigration agents find convicted criminals and speed up their deportation. But he has insisted that law enforcement agents know who and where they are.
Is this different from the Obama administration?
Not much actually. After suspected spies and terrorists, convicted criminals are already included in the highest-priority category for deportation from the U.S. A person convicted of a crime while a member of a street gang is also considered a high priority for removal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In 2014, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson ordered Border Patrol agents and deportation officers to focus on deporting people with criminal records and those who had come to the U.S. after Jan. 1 of that year. Those who had entered illegally before that, if they had no other violations on their record, were pushed to the bottom of the list for removal, even if a person had been deported once before.
Records show Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported 235,413 people last year, down from a record high of 409,849 in 2012. Over that time, the percentage of immigrants deported with criminal convictions increased from 55% in 2012 to 59% in 2015.
Of those deported from the interior of the U.S., 91% had criminal convictions in 2015, according to ICE statistics. That number was higher because it excludes deportations that occur closer to the border, where the legal and logistical hurdles are lower.
Obama administration officials say the total number of removals is down because a large percentage of people now apprehended are from Central America, and it takes longer to send people back to countries that don’t share a border with the U.S.
In addition, about 10% of all people deported each year are lawful permanent residents in the country legally who have been convicted of a crime, according to the American Immigration Council.
Once someone is ordered removed, “ICE does its job,” said Alonzo Peña, former deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from 2008 to 2010. “They get an order, get the person, they put him on an airplane and they are gone.”
Could that effort be accelerated?
It would be difficult. First, chasing down and removing people with criminal histories takes more time and resources than deporting indiscriminately.
Also any effort to speed up the removal of convicted criminals would run up against a massive case backlog in the immigration courts. By law, a deportation order can be challenged in immigration court. In some jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles and Denver, the backlogs can delay deportations for years, even if a person has been convicted of a crime.
The only way to deport someone without going before a judge is if a person agrees to leave voluntarily, or if the person was caught within two weeks of crossing illegally into the U.S. or apprehended within 100 miles of the U.S. border.
Congressional action to increase the number of immigration judges and courts could help speed things up, though gridlock in Washington makes that unlikely.
“If Trump wanted to do something to increase enforcement it would be to triple the immigration judges,” said John Sandweg, former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “That would be the most effective way to increase deportations from the U.S.”
“You can’t wave a magic wand and just remove all the criminal aliens; they still have to go through the process,” Sandweg said.
How many immigrants have criminal records and what sorts of crimes have they committed?
Exact figures on that are hard to find because immigrants here illegally often live in the shadows and aren’t always identified in crime statistics.
But studies have indicated that even as the number of immigrants illegally living in the U.S. tripled between 1990 and 2013, the violent crime rate declined 48%, according to a 2015 report from the American Immigration Council.
The same report found the rate of incarceration is lower among all types of immigrants in the U.S. than among native-born Americans; roughly 1.6% of immigrant men ages 18-39 are incarcerated, compared with 3.3% of native-born American men of that age.
Among immigrants with criminal convictions who were deported from the U.S., by far the most common felony conviction, about 31%, is an immigration violation, including entry, reentry, false claims to citizenship and alien smuggling, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement data from 2013. | http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-trump-criminal-deportation-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/a7e05ce959bda3f51ca263a507fb327b44575574628ea52700e16cd9fb4fa936.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Harriet Ryan"
]
| 2016-08-30T02:50:04 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Fcalifornia%2Fla-me-purdue-investigation-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4e28a/turbine/la-me-purdue-investigation-20160829-snap | en | null | California representatives call for congressional investigation into Purdue Pharma and other opioid makers | null | null | www.latimes.com | Two California representatives called Monday for a congressional investigation of opioid manufacturers, citing a Los Angeles Times investigation that found that the maker of OxyContin collected extensive evidence of criminal trafficking of its drug but in many cases did not alert law enforcement.
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), both members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in a letter to the committee chairs that an immediate investigation was necessary “to fully understand the implications and consequences of pharmaceutical companies that do not fulfill their legal and ethical requirements to restrict the sale of opioids in circumstances that raise suspicion regarding inappropriate prescribing practices.”
The congressmen added, “There appears to be a pervasive disregard for patient safety and public health by some within the pharmaceutical industry.”
The Times’ report last month concerned the workings of the internal security department of Purdue Pharma, a private Connecticut company that has reaped more than $31 billion from OxyContin, the nation's top-selling opioid painkiller. The newspaper found that, for a decade, company lawyers, investigators and other employees have used prescribing data, field reports, sales records and their own surveillance operations to identify doctors and pharmacies they suspected of catering to addicts and drug dealers. In many cases, the company did not share its information with the Drug Enforcement Administration or police or ensure its distributors cut off the supply of pills.
In one case highlighted by The Times, a criminal ring monitored by Purdue used a phony MacArthur Park clinic, elderly physicians and corrupt pharmacies to pump more than 1 million OxyContin tablets into the hands of gang members and other criminals. Purdue did not go to law enforcement until years later, when the ring was out of business and its leaders under indictment.
A spokesman for Purdue declined to comment. The company has said it complied with the law.
Since 1999, nearly 200,000 people in the U.S. have died of overdoses involving prescription painkillers. Stopping the crisis has attracted bipartisan support in Congress, including the recent passage of a law that would improve treatment programs and curb overdoses.
Video A look inside an OxyContin drug ring Here’s how a single L.A. drug ring pumped more than a million Oxy pills onto the black market. Here’s how a single L.A. drug ring pumped more than a million Oxy pills onto the black market. See more videos
DeSaulnier, who is in his first term, has worked to address California’s prescription drug problem for several years. While serving in the state Senate in 2013, he wrote a law that improved the prescription monitoring program to allow authorities to better flag doctor-shopping patients and overprescribing physicians.
He said he was concerned that Purdue seemed to have escaped any repercussions for the way it handled the information it collected on suspect doctors and pharmacies.
“How do you get people to do the right thing when there are no consequences?” he said in an interview.
ALSO
New mandatory prison sentence bill inspired by Stanford sexual assault heads to governor's desk
L.A. school employee charged with smuggling heroin and cellphones to San Quentin death row inmate
County-USC patients' personal information stolen in car break-in | http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-purdue-investigation-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/0a5a3c660cecc99928604fc9aeea34d6f990bb5af898bd0317d60f9855dacc32.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Lisa Dillman"
]
| 2016-08-28T22:49:29 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fmore%2Fla-sp-0829-us-open-tennis-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c35b59/turbine/la-sp-0829-us-open-tennis-20160828-snap | en | null | U.S. Open can keep out the rain but can't escape the injuries | null | null | www.latimes.com | First off, there was Roger Federer’s left knee. Next, the injury ante was raised in a big way by the time the Olympics ended with Novak Djokovic’s left wrist and, finally and dramatically, the right shoulder of Serena Williams.
The way things are going, the portable ultrasounds better be poised for plenty of action at the year’s final major, the U.S. Open in New York. The tournament starts Monday with a new $150-million retractable roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, which will allow the rain-plagued event to finish on time.
Federer’s tennis year wrapped in July and at the moment, the No. 1s on both tours, Djokovic and Serena Williams, are under siege.
Instead of leaving Rio with medals, Djokovic was remembered for his heartfelt tears following a first-round loss to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. Djokovic’s title at the Rogers Cup in Toronto was a rare shining moment of a rough summer.
The defending U.S. Open champion Djokovic admitted to reporters on Friday that the wrist has not been in an “ideal state” the last few weeks. For Djokovic, the first test will come Monday against the slumping Jerzy Janowicz of Poland.
The top men are a tired group with the possible exception of Wimbledon finalist, No. 5-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada, who skipped the Olympics. ESPN commentator John McEnroe revealed on a conference call Friday that he would not be working with Raonic at the Open, saying it would be “easier for everyone.”
There were questions raised at Wimbledon when McEnroe, then a consultant to the Raonic camp, called the Canadian’s matches. McEnroe, for his part, has not ruled out a future collaboration.
Djokovic and Raonic are in the upper part of the draw and Olympic champion Andy Murray of Britain is in the bottom half with the likes of Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, Kei Nishikori of Japan and American Sam Querrey, who is 1-4 in his last five matches.
Murray’s itinerary has been daunting. Days after beating Del Potro to win gold in Rio, he was on the court at a Masters Series tournament in Mason, Ohio. On fumes, he reached the final but Marin Cilic of Croatia won in straight sets, ending Murray’s 22-match winning streak.
ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe, for one, thought Murray’s success this season was sparked on clay courts before he moved on to the grass and hard-court campaigns.
“That really helped him do what he's been able to do the last couple of months, McEnroe said on a conference call. “Because of that…now he's got a chance to take over No. 1” later this year.
But Djokovic isn’t the only player who was a clear-cut No. 1 in January who is feeling the hot breath of a pursuer now that the calendar is about to click over to September.
Serena Williams’s problematic shoulder helped contribute to a shock third-round exit to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Olympics. Her closest pursuer is Rio silver medalist and No. 2-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, who could supplant Williams at No. 1 if certain circumstances unfold in New York.
“I think Serena is almost offended if she’s not No. 1,” said Patrick McEnroe. “It’s like her right. Even those years when she was working her way back and she wasn’t No. 1, it didn’t feel right.”
erena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Angelique Kerber in the championship match at Wimbledon. Tim Ireland / Associated Press erena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Angelique Kerber in the championship match at Wimbledon. erena Williams holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Angelique Kerber in the championship match at Wimbledon. (Tim Ireland / Associated Press)
Williams said the shoulder problems started in July just after winning Wimbledon, which was her 22nd Grand Slam singles title, tying the legendary Steffi Graf. That only trails Margaret Court’s 24 singles championships at the Slams.
In 2016, Williams has played in seven tournaments — allowing the likes of Kerber and, to a lesser extent, No. 3 Garbine Muguruza of Spain and No. 4 Aga Radwanksa of Poland -- to draw closer. She has played three matches since Wimbledon but few are better than Williams at succeeding despite a limited schedule.
Serena is in the same half of the draw as her older sister Venus and No. 5 Simona Halep of Romania. Venus will face Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine in the first round and Serena, in a tough assignment, will meet Ekaterina Makarova of Russia.
According to ESPN analyst Chris Evert, young American Madison Keys is a player to watch and has a chance to create a major upset.
“She’s beaten Venus and she’s played Serena some good matches. I always think if she’s on her A-game -- and Serena is off -- I always give her a shot,” Evert said.
Keys, who broke into the top 10 in June, is better equipped to handle the pressure of higher expectations.
“The last year or so I’ve had to deal with a lot of it,” she said in a telephone interview with The Times. “I think after my semifinal at the Aussie Open (in 2015), I was thrown into it and I wasn’t quite ready for it.
“The last year and a half has really helped me mature and get more comfortable being in that position. For me, just having my own expectations and not really listening to other people has been a major thing that I’ve had to do.”
[email protected]
Twitter: @reallisa | http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-0829-us-open-tennis-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/b26ae3d9fe7351cba09a5dc1bb3848d3b361e3d623aa4c6176f16a5c649dfb64.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:50:18 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-1472644502-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c6d70f/turbine/la-na-trailguide-updates-1472644502 | en | null | Trump's sudden trip to Mexico carries high-profile risks | null | null | www.latimes.com | Donald Trump's suddenly announced trip to Mexico upended the political landscape Wednesday as the Republican presidential nominee sought to reinforce an image as a leader willing to take bold political risks.
Trump is all but certain to be met with protests ahead of his afternoon visit with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City. Trump has been highly unpopular with Mexicans after his disparaging remarks about them. In the U.S., more than 80% of Latinos view him as racist, according to polls.
With the meeting scheduled hours before Trump's highly anticipated speech on immigration Wednesday night in Phoenix, the moment also raises the stakes on an issue Trump has struggled to master since launching his campaign bashing by immigrants.
"What the American people are seeing here today is the kind of decisive president Donald Trump will be," running mate Mike Pence said on CNN's "New Day."
The high-level meeting is bound to be as contentious inside as it is on the streets outside. Peña Nieto has compared Trump to Adolf Hitler, and officials have scoffed at Trump's plan to have Mexico pay for his promised border wall.
At the same time, a tete-a-tete could bring gravitas to the Trump campaign as he works to build voter trust in his ability as a world leader.
"The opportunity Trump has is to raise his stature," Ari Fleischer, the former White House spokesman for President George W. Bush, said on MSNBC.
"If he can do anything that shows himself on a world level, a level of stature — even if the president of Mexico excoriates Donald Trump — if Trump responds in a thoughtful manner on a national stage, it's a wonderful opportunity for him."
But Republican strategist Stu Stevens, who has been critical of Trump's campaign, viewed the move as a last-ditch effort to beef up the candidate's foreign policy credentials.
"It’s almost like they woke up and realized we’re running against a former secretary of State, our guy used to do the Miss America pageant around the world — maybe we should heavy this up."
Both Trump and rival Hillary Clinton were invited last week by the Mexican president for a meeting, but Pence noted that Clinton was staying behind on the campaign trail in Ohio rather than taking up the offer.
"The American people can see quite a contrast between Donald Trump — who gets an invitation with a world leader, drops what he's doing, even with a major speech on the schedule tonight," Pence said.
Clinton was to speak to the American Legion convention in Cincinnati, a group Trump will address on Thursday.
Clinton's team quickly downplayed Trump's visit to Mexico as a sideshow to his speech in Phoenix, where he has promised to explain his shifting immigration policy.
"From the first days of his campaign, Donald Trump has painted Mexicans as 'rapists’ and criminals and has promised to deport 16 million people, including children and U.S. citizens," Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement.
"What ultimately matters is what Donald Trump says to voters in Arizona, not Mexico, and whether he remains committed to the splitting up of families and deportation of millions." | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-1472644502-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/bad7e6242d8717cf1a5e5c8d2ecbbea365846af569a8a44ea24b984445b0a74a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T20:50:34 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-snapshot-from-the-trail-joni-ernst-s-1472328617-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Snapshot from the trail: Sen. Joni Ernst's 'Roast and Ride' in Iowa | null | null | www.latimes.com | Donald Trump travels to Iowa, where he'll attend Sen. Joni Ernst's second annual "Roast and Ride," an event that combines motorcycles, food and politics. | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-snapshot-from-the-trail-joni-ernst-s-1472328617-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/2a4e93f9d5f6cf8692a5b3b6ea9b4e76c76c6e2b66d3a077ff9c807f59b103a1.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-27T00:49:03 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fnationnow%2Fla-na-transgender-bathroom-north-carolina-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0d552/turbine/la-na-transgender-bathroom-north-carolina-20160826-snap | en | null | Judge rules University of North Carolina can't enforce transgender bathroom restrictions | null | null | www.latimes.com | A judge ruled Friday that two students and an employee must be allowed to use restrooms matching their gender identity at University of North Carolina campuses, and he said they have a strong chance of proving the state's bathroom-access measure violates federal law.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder temporarily blocked the University of North Carolina from making the three plaintiffs follow the restroom provision of the so-called HB2 law as the larger case makes its way to trial in November. His final decision on the law won't come until after that trial.
Passed in March, HB2 requires transgender people to use the restrooms in schools and many public buildings that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates, rather than their gender identity. It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections.
The state's Republican leaders argue the law is needed to protect privacy and safety by keeping men out of women's restrooms. Transgender residents challenging the law argue that restroom safety is protected by existing laws, while the North Carolina measure is harmful and discriminatory.
In his ruling Friday, Schroeder wrote that the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit "are likely to succeed" in their arguments that HB2 violates Title IX, a federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender in educational institutions.
However, he said they haven't shown they are likely to succeed on a claim that the law violates their constitutional equal protection rights, and he reserved judgment on another constitutional claim related to due process.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents the transgender plaintiffs, and the U.S. Justice Department both argued for a preliminary injunction to block the restroom provision of the law. Defending the law are Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, Republican legislative leaders and a citizens group.
Several cases seeking to challenge or defend the law were assigned to Schroeder, while another case is pending in a separate federal court.
ALSO
As John McCain fights for reelection, the Trump problem cuts two ways — both against him
With 'healing hikes,' activists take black lives into the outdoors
Can Donald Trump really round up and deport 11 million people? | http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-transgender-bathroom-north-carolina-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/64e963b8e8d3d128138f02ee222ef27aaa1010464c768fec5366636d8b238088.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mike Digiovanna"
]
| 2016-08-30T06:49:36 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fangels%2Fla-sp-angels-reds-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c513d8/turbine/la-sp-angels-reds-20160829-snap | en | null | Angels beat Reds, 9-2, in a game with more potential impact than you might think | null | null | www.latimes.com | A half-game separated the basement-dwelling Angels and Cincinnati Reds as they began a potentially pivotal series Monday night in Angel Stadium, where the Angels got home runs from five players in a 9-2 demolition of the Reds.
Five other teams — Oakland, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, San Diego and Arizona — are within 1 1/2 games of the Angels, who are tied for last place in the American League West, and the Reds, who are last in the National League Central.
As August turns to September and pennant races heat up, the seven aforementioned clubs are jockeying for a prize that has nothing to do with division titles, wild-card berths or home-field advantage in October:
The third pick in next year’s draft.
With the 2017 draft going in reverse order of the 2016 standings, Atlanta (48-83) and Minnesota (49-82) are the favorites for the top two picks. Barring a September surge, the Braves and Twins, who are six games “ahead” of Arizona for the second pick, will be difficult to catch.
But with the Angels among seven teams bunched up near the bottom of the heap, they could go from picking third next year to ninth depending on their finish, a huge swing.
For example, Baltimore used the third pick in 2010 on third baseman Manny Machado, who blossomed into a three-time All-Star and most-valuable-player candidate.
San Diego used the ninth pick of that draft on a high school pitcher named Karsten Whitson, who did not sign with the Padres. Whitson eventually signed with Boston as an 11th-round pick in 2014, but his professional career has consisted of seven innings for the Class-A Lowell Spinners.
Tampa Bay used the third pick in 2006 on third baseman Evan Longoria, a four-time All-Star. Baltimore used the ninth pick that year on third baseman Billy Rowell, who never played above double A and was released after serving a 50-game suspension, having tested positive for marijuana in 2012.
Baseball has a strong aversion to the concept of “tanking,” even though the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros did a good job of it while hoarding top picks to build into the contenders they are today.
But there is no denying the fact that the Angels could actually win by losing over the final month of the season.
To that end, the Angels took a 2-0 deficit in the first inning Monday night when Billy Hamilton singled ahead of Joey Votto’s two-run homer for the Reds.
They couldn’t hold it. Kole Calhoun doubled in the bottom of the first, Mike Trout blasted a two-run homer to center, his 25th of the season, and Albert Pujols crushed a solo shot to left, his 26th, for a 3-2 Angels lead.
Trout joined Frank Robinson and Eddie Mathews as the only players with five 25-homer seasons prior to their age-25 season. Pujols’ homer was the 586th of his career, tying him with Robinson for ninth place on baseball’s all-time list. It was also his 1,800th career run batted in and 1,200th extra-base hit.
Trout doubled in the third and scored on Pujols’ single, making Trout one of two players with five 100-run seasons before age 25. The other: Alex Rodriguez. C.J. Cron followed with a two-run homer to left, and Jefry Marte, swinging at a 3-0 pitch, lined a solo shot to left for a 7-2 lead.
Calhoun added a solo homer in the fourth, and Marte had an RBI double in the seventh to back Matt Shoemaker, who allowed two runs and seven hits, struck out seven and walked none to improve to 9-13 with a 3.91 earned-run average. The Angels have won five of six games.
“We’re playing to win,” Trout said, laughing at the notion that the Angels should lose more to improve their 2017 draft lot. “We’re not gonna just tank the rest of the season. We’re gonna try to end on a positive note and go from there.”
[email protected]
Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna | http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-reds-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/e5e98860914c03aca5053bad42c0ffa09dd0f347535188072897e73169a7d680.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Deborah Vankin"
]
| 2016-08-27T18:49:04 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies%2Fla-et-mn-box-office-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0ffb9/turbine/la-et-mn-box-office-20160826-snap | en | null | Aaaah: 'Don't Breathe' takes top spot at the box office | null | null | www.latimes.com | That airy, wooshing sound? It’s a deep sigh of relief from Sony’s Screen Gems and Steve Bersch’s Stage 6 Films. Their low-budget horror movie, “Don't Breathe,” surpassed “Suicide Squad” and pulled into the top spot at the box office on Saturday. It grossed about $10 million on Friday, and is expected to finish its opening weekend with about $22 million.
The thriller, from Uruguay-born writer-director Fede Alvarez and starring Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Daniel Zovatto and Stephen Lang, is about a group of friends in Detroit whose home-invasion plan goes horribly wrong. It’s a notable success for Alvarez, best known for 2013’s “Evil Dead" remake. The film, which was produced by Alvarez and “Evil Dead" series creator Sam Raimi, has an 87% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and cost about $10 million to make.
The DC Comics/Warner Bros. antihero mash-up “Suicide Squad,” which has suffered poor reviews, led the box office pack the last three weekends. It now follows “Don’t Breathe” in second place, grossing about $11 million so far this weekend. The film has already pulled in more than $500 million internationally.
Sony’s “Sausage Party” and Focus’ animated “Kubo and the Two Strings” took the third and fourth box office spots, respectively.“ Sausage Party” in its third week, brought in a little over $7 million weekend while “Kubo,” in its second week, took in about $7 million also.
The weekend’s other major wide release is Lionsgate’s “Mechanic: Resurrection," starring Jason Statham, which claimed the fifth box office spot. The sequel to 2011’s “The Mechanic,” about an elite hit man, also stars Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones. It opened at about $7 million.
Overall, it’s safe to say that horror is hot this summer. Recent hits include “Lights Out" and “The Conjuring 2” from New Line Cinema, “The Shallows" from Sony and “The Purge: Election Year” from Universal Pictures.
Caption The Comedy Comedy Festival in Little Tokyo The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. Caption Director Andrew Ahn on his new film, 'Spa Night' Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night." Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night."
[email protected]
Follow me on Twitter: @DebVankin | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-box-office-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/2554a776f4ae5d6fd290e533cccdeb71ebd82d286cf715d5a2910585f8258599.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Bill Shaikin"
]
| 2016-08-28T20:49:18 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fdodgers%2Fla-sp-dodgers-carlos-ruiz-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c337c0/turbine/la-sp-dodgers-carlos-ruiz-20160828-snap | en | null | Dodgers keep Carlos Ruiz on bench against Cubs left-hander Jon Lester | null | null | www.latimes.com | For the second time in the three days since Carlos Ruiz joined the Dodgers, the team faced a left-handed starter. This time, Ruiz was on the bench.
When the Dodgers traded A.J. Ellis to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ruiz last week, they said Ruiz could help win games against left-handers. Ruiz has an .856 OPS off left-handers, as compared with .616 for Ellis and .803 for Yasmani Grandal, the Dodgers’ starting catcher.
On Sunday, the Cubs started lefty Jon Lester, against whom Ruiz is hitless in 14 career at-bats. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said that track record was a secondary factor in the decision to start Grandal over Ruiz.
“He’s a backup catcher,” Roberts said.
Since the Dodgers played a day game Sunday after a day game Saturday, Roberts said there was no need to rest Grandal in favor of Ruiz.
“No one said he’s going to play against every lefty,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers lost on Friday, in Ruiz's debut, after the Cubs scored the tying run when Ruiz could not handle a cut fastball from closer Kenley Jansen. Ruiz had never caught Jansen, an issue that former Dodgers pitcher Dan Haren referenced when he tweeted that the Ellis trade “makes zero sense.”
Haren further tweeted: “Grandal catches everyday now. If something happened and he got hurt, the Dodgers would be much better off with AJ catching. Even with Grandal healthy, the upgrade is marginal at best. A catcher familiar with the pitching staff is vital.”
On Saturday, as Grandal caught in the game, Ruiz volunteered to catch every Dodgers reliever in the bullpen, so he could become familiar with their pitches. Roberts saluted Ruiz, an 11-year veteran, for his willingness “to humble himself and to educate himself.”
Said Roberts: “That’s something A.J. Ellis would do.”
[email protected]
Twitter: @BillShaikin | http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-carlos-ruiz-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/56e5f3bdaa16b31543a840465611ad42736bf0c6873ffccaf7fcb50d53a57bdf.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Tom Kington",
"Laura King"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:04:44 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fla-fg-italy-quake-20160825-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bef81e/turbine/la-fg-italy-quake-20160825-snap | en | null | Crews find living among the dead as search goes on for survivors of Italy quake that killed 250 | null | null | www.latimes.com | The rescuers’ hopes were dashed when they touched the small, cold leg protruding from a mountain of debris in this quake-ruined village. Clearly, the little girl was dead.
But not all hope was lost. As they dug, the rescue crew could see that entwined in the dead 8-year-old child’s arms was her 4-year-old sister, Giorgia. And she was still breathing.
“They were lying embraced under the rubble,” one of the rescuers recounted. “We heard a moan, and realized she was alive.”
Many more were not so lucky. As of Thursday afternoon, the death toll from the earthquake that had ravaged a string of formerly postcard-perfect Italian mountain villages early Wednesday stood at 250, with hundreds more hurt.
For the 5,000-strong rescue force that converged from across Italy and Europe, the digging out had by then become a harvest of death, with corpses unearthed at every turn. Onlookers sobbed in recognition as bodies were carefully lifted from the crumbled wreckage.
As hundreds of aftershocks rumbled through the quake zone, about 85 miles northeast of Rome, rescue teams dodged falling debris and bleary-eyed survivors settled in for a second full night in the open air. More than 1,200 people were sheltering in tents, cars and camping trailers, afraid to venture indoors.
The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, reduced hundreds of structures — some of them historic homes and churches that had stood for centuries — to monumental heaps of rubble and dust.
Despite the devastation, rescuers pressed ahead.
“We want to believe there are still people alive under there,” said firefighter Danilo Dionisi, whose team in the village of Pescara del Tronto unearthed the entwined Rinaldi sisters Wednesday night after their frantic parents showed where to dig for them. “We are still hunting… hoping there will be more Giorgias.”
In far-flung corners of Italy, people paid tribute to quake victims. Flags flew at half-staff, and the culture ministry said all proceeds from public museums on Sunday would be donated to restoration efforts.
As clouds of cloying white dust kicked up by the temblor began to settle, the first in a round of expected finger-pointing began. Prosecutors in Rieti province on Thursday launched an investigation of “culpable disaster” in earthquake preparations, Italy’s Ansa news agency reported.
Italy earthquake: Drone footage depicts devastation in Amatrice Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) See more videos
The country’s last major earthquake, which hit in 2009 about 50 miles south of the current quake zone, killed some 300 people and set off angry recriminations over unsafe building procedures and other safety lapses.
Pescara del Tronto, once one of the region’s beauty spots, bore the full brunt of the quake’s fury, with nearly four dozen inhabitants killed as fallen homes sent masonry cascading down steep, narrow streets. The village, flanked by fragrant fig trees, was transformed into little more than a dusty scar in the greenery, patrolled by soldiers and sifted through by firefighters.
The quake’s capricious power could be seen everywhere — one home left standing while another fell, often depending on the building standards used.
One survivor, Bruno Filotei, rushed out of his home when the quake hit — just in time to see his mother’s house just across the street collapse, killing her.
“My house was new….that’s the difference,” he said, distraught.
Local landmarks were rendered unrecognizable. “This was once a road, I think,” a volunteer in Pescara del Tronto said, studying the rubble like an archaeologist.
In the nearby town of Accumoli, a venerable church steeple toppled onto an adjacent home, killing a family of four.
Governments of neighboring European countries, meanwhile, sought to account for missing nationals who had been working or vacationing in the idyllic Apennine mountains at the height of the summer tourist season. Romania said five of its citizens died in the quake and nearly a dozen others were unaccounted for, and Spain reported the death of at least one Spanish national.
Dionisi, the firefighter whose team rescued Giorgia, told of another heartening save, also within hours of the quake. Two brothers, 4-year-old Samuele and 7-year-old Leone, were trapped when the roof of their house partly collapsed. It was a delicate rescue; the boys were shielded by toppled beams, with enough air to breathe, but they grew frightened as efforts to extricate them dragged on.
“I freed Samuele, but it took a long time to get Leone out,” Dionisi said. To comfort and distract the little boy, the rescuers promised him a ride on their fire engine when he got out. Soon after, they plucked him to safety.
Such uplifting outcomes were in painfully short supply. Italian news reports focused on one particularly wrenching case: the death of an 18-month-old girl whose mother had moved away from the area after living through the lethal 2009 quake in L’Aquila.
The infant, identified as Marisol Piermarini, was killed as she slept in the family’s vacation home in Arquata del Tronto, in the heart of the quake zone. Her mother again survived.
Not only the physically injured needed comforting. Giovanni D’Ercole, the bishop of nearby Ascoli Piceno, gently approached a group of residents in Pescara del Tronte who stood gazing numbly at their village’s razed remains.
“When I ask survivors how they feel, they say, ‘Nothing’ — they feel their world is finished,” the bishop said. Instead of offering counsel, he wordlessly embraced them.
The bishop, galvanized by the sight of tons of stone and brick flung into the winding streets of towns where seismic activity posed a well-known threat, had some pointed advice for the Italian authorities.
Rebuild, he said. But this time, with wood.
Special correspondent Kington reported from Pescara del Tronto, Italy, and staff writer King from Washington.
MORE WORLD NEWS
At least one dead, 26 hurt as gunmen attack American University in Kabul
As women are fined for wearing head scarves, French activists push back on 'burkini' ban
Strong evidence suggests a Peruvian police 'death squad' set up and killed criminal suspects | http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-italy-quake-20160825-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/7002310e9d481dff166a0a11f18225a94b5b20ced833a7d7b6b2e3e809a5768e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Alice Walton"
]
| 2016-08-31T12:50:13 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-essential-california-20160831-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c63359/turbine/la-me-essential-california-20160831-snap | en | null | Essential California: LAPD, Chris Brown and a made-for-TV standoff | null | null | www.latimes.com | Good morning. It is Wednesday, Aug. 31. The Tower of Terror at Disneyland will close on Jan. 2, 2017. Here's what is happening in the Golden State:
TOP STORIES
Sad discovery
The remains of five adults were discovered in a Temecula board-and-care facility that caught fire Monday. The cause of the fire is under investigation. State records show the business was inspected in 2011, 2012 and 2015, and was equipped with smoke detectors. “I don't think I've processed it yet. It's not something you expect to happen to your neighbors,” said a person who lives down the street. Los Angeles Times
Made for TV
In what is likely to go down in the annals of Los Angeles celebrity justice, singer Chris Brown was engaged for much of Tuesday in a standoff with Los Angeles police officers who were investigating allegations that he had pointed a gun at a woman at his Tarzana home. While police waited outside for a warrant, Brown took to social media defending himself. News choppers covered the scene from the air. By the end of the day, Brown was in custody and a lot of Hollywood was glued to TMZ. Los Angeles Times
Housing funds
The city of Los Angeles will spend $200 million over the next 10 years to settle a lawsuit that accused city officials of failing to provide enough public housing units for the disabled. City officials will have to build or configure 4,000 units for people who use wheelchairs, have hearing impairments or live with other disabilities. Los Angeles Times
FRAMED: A MYSTERY IN SIX PARTS
Limbo: The police investigation into Kent and Jill Easter lasted more than a year and included the discovery of a blueprint for a perfect crime. Here is the third installment in reporter Christopher Goffard’s six-part series titled “Framed.” Los Angeles Times
L.A. AT LARGE
Caught on tape: A beautiful video captures the life and death of the beloved 6th Street Bridge, which was the star of quite a few movies. Facebook
Getting around: One-fifth of households in Los Angeles are car-free, according to a survey. “While that figure is a rough estimate, the point stands that despite L.A.'s reputation as an autopia, an enormous number of people live and work here without the help of a personal vehicle.” LAist
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Saving for the future: California has a novel way to help its residents save for retirement — if it can get beyond the asset management industry. The Atlantic
Help for families: California families on welfare may soon have some help when it comes to buying diapers. A bill approved by the Assembly would provide CalWORKs families with a monthly $50 diaper voucher beginning in 2020. Los Angeles Times
Rules and regulations: Edward Mason is responsible for a quarter of all complaints against commuter shuttles taking tech employees to Google, Netflix and the like. “Either it’s government not doing their job,” Mason said, or “I just feel it’s an inequity and the neighborhood is screwed.” San Francisco Examiner
Campaign finance: Rep. Janice Hahn may have to return $280,000 donated to her race for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors after county election officials alleged her committee probably violated campaign finance rules. In a letter, Registrar Dean Logan said the Hahn campaign had exceeded how much money it could accept from political action committees. Los Angeles Times
Environmental policy: An in-depth look at what climate change policy will actually look like in California. Vox
CRIME AND COURTS
Police protest: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick set off a firestorm last Friday when he refused to stand for the national anthem and criticized the training of police officers. That prompted the Alameda County Sheriff's Office to extend an invitation for Kaepernick to attend its training academy. “We're always talking in this country about the need for more dialogue, well, this is a teachable moment for Colin Kaepernick,” said Sgt. Ray Kelly. Mercury News
Harassment lawsuit: Former USC athletic director Mike Garrett is being accused of sexually harassing female employees during his brief tenure at Cal State L.A. In a new lawsuit, the school’s senior associate athletic director says Garrett referred to women as “sweetheart,” “love” and “babe” and that when one woman complained, Garrett yelled. Attorneys for the school said the case is without merit. Los Angeles Times | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-essential-california-20160831-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f5e973374fcf38ed822fdb1de639f0ff3a43555adf65a3cf55a32d4b751dfd93.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Anna M. Phillips"
]
| 2016-08-30T20:50:11 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Feducation%2Fla-me-edu-library-donation-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5e160/turbine/la-me-edu-library-donation-20160830-snap | en | null | $1-million donation will help needy students with their homework at L.A. libraries | null | null | www.latimes.com | Thirty-eight branches of the Los Angeles Public Library that offer homework help to poor and homeless students will receive a boost from a $1-million donation.
The gift from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, announced Tuesday, will create an endowment for the free after school homework centers, which offer students access to computers, printers and other devices they might not have at home, if they even have permanent homes.
There are an estimated 16,000 homeless students in L.A. Unified schools.
The donation is meant to allow the centers to continue the work they are already doing — helping students with homework or completing college and scholarship essays — but it also could pay for updated technology, according to a press release.
"We know that the hours immediately after school are crucial to the success of many young people," said Ken Brecher, president of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. "The generosity of the Broad Foundation helps to make our Student Zones true safe havens and productive centers for students to do their homework now and in the future."
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
According to the release, the gift is being made in Edythe Broad’s honor.
Editor's note: Education Matters receives funding from a number of foundations, including one or more affiliated with an individual mentioned in this article. The California Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles administer grants from the Baxter Family Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the California Endowment and the Wasserman Foundation. Under terms of the grants, The Times retains complete control over editorial content.
[email protected]
Twitter: @annamphillips | http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-edu-library-donation-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/73e86c7cd641becee199b593dea37472fc8213dd994f800600cd135bc4a57a03.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-27T16:48:55 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-kylan-wilborn-tyler-asemota-make-impact-for-sherman-oaks-notre-dame-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: Kylan Wilborn, Tyler Asemota make impact for Sherman Oaks Notre Dame | null | null | www.latimes.com | You have to go back to the summer, when two under the radar players from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Kylan Wilborn and Tyler Asemota, were drawing rave reviews from those who were actually studying them during workouts.
Wilborn, an Arizona commit who didn't show up to any combines or camps, and Asemota, a receiver with 4.4 speed who missed all of last season with a finger injury, came out Friday night and showed what they can do with pads on.
Wilborn rushed for 111 yards and scored three touchdowns and had two sacks in Notre Dame's 35-21 win over St. Joseph. Asemota had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-kylan-wilborn-tyler-asemota-make-impact-for-sherman-oaks-notre-dame-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/1fe03ca3a0f898515135c46d73195652aada8dc7c7115f3d5b1f2a306a90903e.json |
[
"La Cañada",
"Sara Cardine"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:15:55 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fla-canada-valley-sun%2Fcommunity%2Ftn-vsl-me-chamber-tournament-20160824-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57be253b/turbine/tn-vsl-me-chamber-tournament-20160824 | en | null | Funds from Crescenta Cañada Golf Classic will support of CV Sheriff's, Chamber of Commerce | null | null | www.latimes.com | About 70 golfers took to the links Monday, putting and swinging under sunny skies at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club in the 33rd annual Crescenta Cañada Golf Classic, an event that helps raise funds for the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station and the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn.
In a full day of events, hosted jointly by the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Support Group and the local chamber, participants enjoyed the club's amenities and played for prizes in a putting contest and a full round of golf with a shotgun start.
Organizer Linda Taix-Paccone, president of the sheriff's support group, said past fundraisers have provided needed supplies and equipment to the local station, such as bulletproof vests and, most recently, a new barbecue patio addition to the Briggs Avenue facility.
Proceeds from Monday's tournament will help fund a new mobile command center, Taix-Paccone added. The fully equipped drivable unit costs as much as $360,000 and will include a conference room, computers and radio access. It will ideally be funded by equal, one-third commitments from the support group, Mike Antonovich's Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 5 and the city of La Cañada Flintridge.
"We just want to make sure all the men and women who serve us have the apparatus to do their jobs effectively and efficiently," Taix-Paccone said at the event. "They protect our community, so we want to help them raise money for the things they need."
Tournament Chairman Rick Dinger said the annual golf classic not only funds efforts that keep the community safe, but serves an important social function as well.
"It's a great way (for participants) to create a connection with our law enforcement officers," he said.
In that spirit, employees from the Crescenta Valley Station forewent uniforms in favor of more casual wear and served drinks and refreshments to golfers playing throughout the 18-hole course.
Deputy Eric Matejka, a community services officer and city liaison with the department, said employees greatly appreciate the combined effort of the sheriff's support group and chamber.
"It's a fun day for everyone," he said. "The money goes for good causes and it's a good time — everybody's out on the course having fun."
Rion Zimmerman, the chamber's board chairman, explained the group's involvement in co-hosting the tournament for the past two years, adding that it's a great way for chamber members to work even more closely with the sheriff's department.
Zimmerman's organization will use its share of the tournament proceeds to help fund the various community events and programs it offers throughout the year.
Representing the sheriff's department on Monday was Capt. Bill Song of the Crescenta Valley station, who opted for a polo shirt and shorts over a uniform and sidearm. He was on the putting green just before high noon, practicing for the putting contest.
"The support groups are so great for us. They help us fund so many projects," he said, expressing his enthusiasm at the idea of a new mobile command center. "If there were any major disasters or if anything happens, it would be there, fully operational and ready."
Song's first putting attempt arced too far to the left, while his second overshot the hole by just a bit. The winner of that contest, Jim Richens, would later miss the hole by mere inches for a win, according to organizers.
A brand new Scion iA remained parked on the first hole throughout the game, the grand prize for any lucky golfer who could sink a hole in one on that section of the course. La Cañada Mayor Pro Tem Mike Davitt, a regular attendee for the past four years or more, said he nearly snagged last year's grand prize.
"I was within 3 feet of a hole in one, but close doesn't get you anything," he quipped.
This year's Scion was ultimately returned to donor Bob Smith Toyota after no one achieved the difficult victory. Organizers reported after the event the "low gross" winners that day were Mike Williams, Gavin Williams, Jarrett Gold and Mike Leininger. "Low net" team winners were Pam Stumbaugh, Carty Spencer, Nancy Spencer and Ron del Barrio.
"Closest to the pin" winners were Dan Hooper, Randy Stevenson and Dinger himself, while the "mixed team" winner was from Paco's Barber Shop. Organizers gave special thanks to presenting sponsor Rich Harris, chief executive of Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union.
--
Sara Cardine, [email protected]
Twitter: @SaraCardine | http://www.latimes.com/socal/la-canada-valley-sun/community/tn-vsl-me-chamber-tournament-20160824-story.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/50e372cad72ad4e04d19d76baf46c4e7df52993457bb6a30350e62cd8a62111c.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jessica Meyers"
]
| 2016-08-27T00:49:12 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld%2Fasia%2Fla-fg-china-bourne-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0cd67/turbine/la-fg-china-bourne-20160826-snap | en | null | A 3-D 'Jason Bourne' in China: It's a little too dizzying | null | null | www.latimes.com | Jason Bourne is making moviegoers in China sick – literally.
Since the release earlier this week of the latest Universal Pictures spy thriller, Chinese who watched the film in 3-D have complained of feeling queasy and having to dash to the restroom. The backlash spread rapidly on social media, with filmgoers demanding refunds and asking why few theaters were showing the movie in the original 2-D style.
Universal released this version to the China market, where 3-D tickets sell for more. The incident underscores how Hollywood’s efforts to appeal to – and profit off – China’s vast number of filmgoers sometimes have dizzying effects.
Xie Yufei said she had wanted a romantic evening out with her boyfriend. Instead, she spent the evening fighting off dizziness. “My throat and stomach felt really sick,” the 27-year-old Shanghai dentist said in an interview. “I almost fainted.”
A Universal spokeswoman in China declined to comment. But on Wednesday the company posted a note on Weibo, the country’s version of Twitter, vowing to help make the 2-D version of the film available in more theaters.
“We completely understand and respect the audience’s needs, and hope all moviegoers can choose what to watch according to their preferences,” the company said.
Theaters with 2-D versions nearly quadrupled screenings overnight, to 8,000 scheduled for Friday, according to EntGroup, an entertainment consulting firm. But ticket sales tumbled from an opening high of about $11 million on Tuesday’s debut to about $6 million by Thursday.
Hollywood studios are angling for ways to entice a movie market that is on pace to surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest. And 3-D is a proven draw. Chinese tend to enjoy the technology’s bigger-than-life effects, even if tickets can cost up to 30% more. Other fast-paced Hollywood movies, such as “Avatar” and “Iron Man 3,” also have aired 3-D versions in China.
Wanda Cinema Line, China’s movie theater behemoth, signed a deal with Beverly Hills-based RealD this month to equip 4,000 screens with 3-D projection. They billed it as the biggest cinema 3-D installation agreement in history.
China currently restricts the number of foreign movies it allows into the country every year to 34, of which 14 most be shown in enhanced forms such as 3-D or IMAX.
But for some, what started as a feature turned into a flaw. Film fans complained director Paul Greengrass’ use of handheld cameras magnified the jerkiness and made them experience motion sickness.
“I thought there were some problems with my drinks that night,” one viewer posted on Weibo. “Looks like it wasn’t only me vomiting after watching it.”
Movie posters plastered on subway walls and inside malls played up China’s release of the fifth installment of the Jason Bourne series, featuring a vexed Matt Damon hunting down his past. The actor even appeared in Beijing last week to promote the movie. It opened in the U.S. earlier this summer — in 2-D — with a $60 million debut.
Damon won over many Chinese with his performance last year as a stranded astronaut in “The Martian.” He will star next year in Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s film “The Great Wall,” in which the iconic structure defends the world from monsters.
Even fans expressed frustration at their limited choice.
The “Chinese market loves 3-D films,” said Zhang Yi, a Beijing-based film critic, who saw the film. “But the audience should be given the right to choose between 2-D or 3-D.”
Xie, the Shanghai resident whose night went awry, went home and wrote up a list of tips for those who wanted to brave the 3-D movie.
“Don’t drink too much water,” she said. “And eat properly. Or you will face the consequences.”
Yangzhi Yang from the Times’ Beijing bureau contributed to this report. | http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-china-bourne-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/53287c50833a1e062709c6ac68a26fb5c561168271f1ac1af953a1a6b63a13e4.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Lindsey Thiry"
]
| 2016-08-31T06:49:52 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Frams%2Fla-sp-rams-hard-knocks-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c6624e/turbine/la-sp-rams-hard-knocks-20160830-snap | en | null | 'Hard Knocks' turns at last from the frivolous to football | null | null | www.latimes.com | C’mon, “Hard Knocks.”
More football, fewer mermaids, dinosaurs and talk of tank tops, please.
“Hard Knocks: Training Camp With the Los Angeles Rams” continued Tuesday, and after enduring defensive end William Hayes’ meet-and-greet with a “mermaid” at practice and his trip to Orange County’s Dino Quest, where a dinosaur enthusiast tried to convince Hayes of the creatures’ previous existence, the episode finally turned to football.
Last week at practice, reporters witnessed a fight between the offense and defense. “Hard Knocks” cameras captured the action, played it and then replayed it in slow motion with microphones — which is exactly what they’re there for.
Linebacker Alec Ogletree blindsided running back Benny Cunningham, laying him out on the grass. A small melee between blue and white jerseys ensued.
A play later, star running back Todd Gurley, whom all players have been instructed not to touch for fear of injury, stuck up for his position mate and sought revenge against Ogletree.
Gurley and Ogletree collided, went to the ground and a form of chaos ensued. (Of course, it didn’t involve the quarterbacks, who stood about 30 yards away with their hands on their hips, shaking their heads, muttering about the free-for-all.)
Jeff Fisher, a coach intent on not finishing 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 or 10-6, wasn’t pleased with his team’s behavior. “We can’t get enough … reps as it is, because of the way this whole thing is set up. Every … rep means something,” Fisher yelled inside a huddle, out of the earshot of reporters, but not “Hard Knocks” mics.
Later in the episode, more than a dozen players discovered how important each rep was as they were cut, one by, one from the roster.
Cut day is strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson’s time in the spotlight, though he almost certainly would rather it not be.
“Hard Knocks” revealed that Gullickson receives a list of players whom he must escort from the weight room to Fisher’s office.
“When you grab them on this day and say, ‘We’ve got to take this walk,’ you do feel it deep inside that these kids have dreamed about playing at this level for years, since they were small kids, and then all of a sudden it may be over,” Gullickson said.
Fisher said he took pride in having personally released each player since he’s been a coach in the NFL.
A few other moments worthy of a mention in Episode 4 of the five-part series: Receiver Tavon Austin signed a four-year contract extension, exchanged a hug with Fisher and, later, a handshake with team owner Stan Kroenke.
Special teams coach John Fassel does not lack for energy. He crowd-surfed into a meeting on a surfboard, complete with zinc sunscreen on his nose.
The series’ narration has taken a realistic turn, acknowledging that Case Keenum is the probable starter at quarterback in the season opener against San Francisco as Jared Goff, the top overall pick in the draft, continues to adjust to the NFL.
And finally, if Rams players are as good at football as they are at ordering off the secret menu at In ’N Out Burger — double-double, protein style, animal fries and a chocolate shake, please — this season might turn out OK. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-hard-knocks-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/eb1d7567aa46645fe0033c8b99c493cfbb5b721de87eacaa3552b3507f904cfa.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Matt Hamilton"
]
| 2016-08-31T02:50:15 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-101-freeway-closure-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c63e01/turbine/la-me-ln-101-freeway-closure-20160830-snap | en | null | 101 Freeway reopens in downtown Los Angeles after police coax possible jumper from overpass | null | null | www.latimes.com | Both directions of the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles were briefly closed Tuesday evening as police responded to a possible jumper, snarling traffic for miles on one of the nation’s most heavily traveled highways.
The California Highway Patrol said it closed the northbound lanes of the freeway at Main Street and the southbound lanes at Hill Street.
Los Angeles police officers had converged at the Main Street overpass, where a man had scaled the fence and was standing on a ledge above the roadway.
But shortly after 7 p.m., the CHP announced that the possible jumper was coaxed off the overpass and taken into custody. All lanes on the freeway were reopened by 7:15 p.m., authorities said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department had been dispatched to set up inflatable cushions on the freeway.
The particular stretch of the 101 Freeway sees on average more than 200,000 drivers per day, according to traffic data gathered in 2014 by the California Department of Transportation.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
[email protected]
Twitter: @MattHjourno.
UPDATES:
7:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.
This article was originally published at 6:40 p.m. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-101-freeway-closure-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/4b35a65d9dd8ae425d527fdaf2598723f35f328ce26542090bccae88bfd71e9a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Ben Bolch"
]
| 2016-08-27T02:48:56 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fucla%2Fla-sp-ucla-football-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0def5/turbine/la-sp-ucla-football-20160826-snap | en | null | UCLA's Nate Iese will try to help neutralize Texas A&M's Myles Garrett | null | null | www.latimes.com | UCLA offensive tackle Conor McDermott versus Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett could be the most intriguing individual matchup of the Bruins’ Sept. 3 season opener.
It probably won’t be entirely a one-on-one battle.
Tight end Nate Iese will try to help McDermott keep Garrett out of the Bruins’ backfield, one of the benefits of UCLA switching to an offense that features tight ends and fullbacks.
“It always helps when you can put different bodies on a person,” UCLA offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu said Friday.
Preventing Garrett, projected as one of the top picks in the 2017 NFL draft, from getting a hand on quarterback Josh Rosen and the Bruins’ running backs is only part of Iese’s challenge. Using his hands to catch Rosen’s passes will also be required.
Those hands have already received some reverential reviews. UCLA Coach Jim Mora likened them to those of NFL Hall of Fame receivers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter.
“I’m not overstating that by saying he has some of the best hands catching the football of anyone I’ve ever been around,” Mora said of the fifth-year senior, who has 24 career receptions. “Just big, giant hands and he catches it softly.”
Iese said he honed those hands while playing baseball and basketball in addition to football. Extra sessions with Rosen outside of formal practices also helped.
UCLA will turn attention to Texas A&M after three weeks of practice UCLA will turn its attention to Texas A&M after three weeks of practice. UCLA will turn its attention to Texas A&M after three weeks of practice. See more videos
Iese played linebacker as well as a hybrid receiver-fullback previously but features an ideal body type for tight end at 6-3 and 242 pounds.
“If you were to create a football player in Madden,” Rosen said, referring to the video game, “I’m pretty sure a lot of his physical attributes would be on there.”
Flag football
Some things that happen in the preseason stay in the preseason. Among them is Mora inviting referees to penalize his team.
“I’ve asked them to call it extremely tight,” Mora said. “I said, ‘Let’s go overboard. Anything that’s even close, let’s be very ticky-tack.’ ”
The Bruins have been among the most penalized teams in the nation over the last four years. They averaged 70.5 penalty yards per game last season, ranking 117th out of 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
Asking referees to litter the field with yellow flags in practice was intended to serve as a red alert to Mora’s players. But the coach has found during the four times his team has used referees that they’ve largely kept the flags in their pockets.
“Considering that every play is 11 UCLA [players] versus 11 UCLA [players] — so you’ve got double the number of opportunities for a penalty on a play in practice — it’s been really good,” Mora said. “But I think the proof will come throughout the season.”
Finding some zen could also play a factor. Mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad, while not specifically addressing penalties, has preached concentration and attention to detail, themes that could help lower the number of infractions.
“When you’re tired and you’re worn out and you’ve got a great player across from you in a very challenging situation, it’s being able to maintain focus to come off at the right time or not false start,” Mora said. “It’s technique, it’s moving your feet and getting your body in position so you don’t have to reach out and grab.”
Quick hits
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said defensive end Jacob Tuioti-Mariner completed some drills Friday after being sidelined a week by appendicitis. Defensive end Takkarist McKinley, who’s recently been slowed by a groin injury, attended practice but did not fully participate. “We weren’t doing anything different than he had already known,” Bradley said, “so he was getting a lot of mental reps.” … Bradley described the Bruins a bit wobbly legged after three weeks of preseason practice. “You notice it when you get out there and you see some of the guys that have been hurt and they come back and they look like gazelles compared to some of the other guys,” Bradley said. Players will rest Saturday and Sunday before resuming practice Monday, when formal game preparations start.
[email protected]
Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch | http://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/la-sp-ucla-football-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/94c49fed0e0389a04505bd60a7e4ab177b1fd4d298b12ed653e505a7cbe2b26e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Kim Willsher"
]
| 2016-08-29T16:49:44 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fla-fg-france-burkini-bans-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c45c0c/turbine/la-fg-france-burkini-bans-20160829-snap | en | null | French mayors defy court order to lift burkini ban | null | null | www.latimes.com | Mayors along the French Riviera are defying a court order to lift the ban on full-body bathing suits known as burkinis.
A test case last week in which France's State Council ruled that outlawing the swimming apparel was a "serious and manifestly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms.” Though it covered only the resort of Villeneuve-Loubet, the ruling set what was expected to become a legal precedent for the roughly 30 coastal resorts that introduced the bans this summer.
Instead, the judgement sparked defiance.
On Monday, most of the bans were still being enforced along the Cote d'Azur including in Nice and Cannes.
The bans, issued by mayors as short-term decrees, have provoked a heated political debate this summer in France.
Those in favor of the ban cite France's militant secularism, known as laïcité, and decry the burkini as a symbol of political Islam and women's oppression. Opponents say officials have no place deciding what people should or should not wear and the ban is discriminatory and deliberately targets Muslims following a string of terrorist attacks since November.
Gil Bernardi, the mayor of the Mediterranean seaside resort of Le Lavandou and one of the first to introduce a ban on clothing "not consistent with secularism and hygiene," vowed the ban would stay.
"In Le Lavandou there are no burkinis on the beaches and we're making sure of it. The beach is a place to relax, not a place of ideological or religious confrontation,” Bernardi said.
"A large black outfit has no place on the beach or in the water. It could be interpreted as a provocation."
France's Socialist government is divided on the issue.
A large black outfit has no place on the beach or in the water. It could be interpreted as a provocation. — Gil Bernardi, the mayor of Le Lavandou
Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the State Council's decision was "not the end of the debate in our society about the burkini," but Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has rebuffed calls for legislation against it.
"A law would be not only unconstitutional and inefficient, it would would risk increasing antagonism and irreparable tensions," Cazeneuve told the Catholic newspaper La Croix. Only dialogue, the minister added, would combat the "dangerous strategy of division" that threatened to split France.
This has not stopped two leading candidates in the opposition center right Les Republicains party primaries – former president Nicolas Sarkozy, and Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppé – from declaring their support for a nationwide ban on burkinis and Muslim headscarves in universities and private companies.
Veils and headscarves are already banned in schools and public spaces.
Sarkozy, who has been accused of pandering to the far right to boost his popularity, told RTL radio Monday, "so what, change the constitution.”
He added: "Is it for society to adapt to the law...or the law to adapt to society?" and said the burkini issue was "a provocation by an Islam that is political, extreme and is testing the limits of the republic."
Muslim groups have launched legal challenges to the bans in several French Riviera resorts including Nice, where an Islamic State supporter plowed his truck into Bastille Day crowds, killing 86, on July 14.
On Monday, French police opened an inquiry after a video showing a restaurateur apparently refusing to serve two Muslim women wearing hijabs sparked outrage after it was shared on social media networks.
The man, who has not been named, is heard telling the women, "Terrorists are Muslims and all Muslims are terrorists. I don't want people like you in my place, end of story. At least that's clear,” he is heard saying.
Family and women's rights minister Laurence Rossignol, posted a tweet describing the restaurateur's behavior as "intolerable."
Willsher is a special correspondent
ALSO
As women are fined for wearing head scarves, French activists push back on 'burkini' ban
French burkini ban puzzles, upsets Muslim fashion designers
What people are saying about 'burkinis' in France | http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-france-burkini-bans-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/3004ef78a2d31baf591d106ab400e25d98cec1012d199c52cea012bacbad4a3a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Bettina Boxall"
]
| 2016-08-27T10:48:51 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-banning-coastal-20160825-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0f20a/turbine/la-me-banning-coastal-20160825-snap | en | null | Coastal Commission staff calls for shrinking a proposed Orange County beach development | null | null | www.latimes.com | In another twist in the struggle over one of the biggest coastal developments proposed in years, the staff of the California Coastal Commission has recommended that Newport Banning Ranch backers significantly shrink their project to protect wildlife habitat.
The recommendations, released Friday, set the stage for a pitched battle at the commission’s Sept. 7 hearing in Newport Beach, when the panel is scheduled to vote on the project.
The proposal to erect nearly 900 homes, a 75-room resort hotel and a retail complex on the largest private, undeveloped coastal parcel in Southern California has highlighted tensions at the commission, which regulates development along the state’s 1,100-mile coastline.
In February, commissioners – who are political appointees – fired Executive Director Charles Lester, stirring widespread criticism that they were trying to make the agency friendlier to developers.
At the same time, a number of commissioners, including Chairman Steve Kinsey, made it clear that they wanted to approve some version of the Banning Ranch development, which would rise on an old Orange County oil field next to the mouth of the Santa Ana River.
Last fall the staff recommended denial of a larger version of the project after finding that much of the 401-acre tract, though disturbed, provided important habitat for rare plants and animals, and harbored one of the only reasonably intact wetland-bluff ecosystems left on the Southern California coast.
We are deeply concerned and disappointed that the staff report does not appear to reflect the discussions or the agreements we have made with them. — Newport Banning Ranch spokesman Sam Singer
Under pressure from Kinsey and other commissioners who disputed the environmental assessments of staff scientists, the staff backpedaled in April and recommended approval with restrictions that would confine the development footprint to about 55 acres.
The staff’s latest recommendations cut that to roughly 20 acres, a size that would potentially eliminate the hotel and an unspecified number of residences in the project’s southern half.
“We are deeply concerned and disappointed that the staff report does not appear to reflect the discussions or the agreements we have made with them during the past year,” Newport Banning Ranch spokesman Sam Singer said.
“This in no way changes our plan,” he added.
Under Banning Ranch’s latest proposal, 329 acres – much of it wetlands that can’t be developed – would be set aside as a nature preserve. Oil production would continue at two locations totaling 15 acres. The hotel, commercial space, parks and 895 residences – a mix of single family homes and condos – would be clustered in the central and southern portions of the tract.
The development team, which includes an oil company that has co-owned the land for nearly two decades, is promoting the project as a way to clean up and open to the public a swath of scrub and wetlands dotted with rusting oil equipment and contaminated soil.
Embracing that argument, a number of commissioners have challenged staff conclusions that most of the tract is environmentally sensitive habitat that should remain off-limits to development.
The commission is not bound by the staff recommendations and can approve the developer’s plans. Commission observers say they can’t predict how the vote will go amid intense public scrutiny.
One complication stems from the fact that Kinsey won’t be part of the deliberations. In June, he recused himself from voting on the project after The Times revealed that he had twice failed to report private meetings with the Banning Ranch team, as required under the California Coastal Act.
In its new report, the staff pushes back against the developers’ arguments that a smaller project wouldn’t be economically viable and that the project would underwrite environmental cleanup of a prized coastal site.
The Coastal Act doesn’t “require that this commission guarantee developers a profitable return on their investments,” the report states. It also notes that under state law, oil field operators are required to restore land when production ceases.
The staff concluded that slashing the development footprint is necessary to protect foraging areas for wintering burrowing owls, a state species “of special concern.” Previously, the staff had identified only a small area as owl habitat, a designation sharply criticized by a raptor expert who wrote the commission on behalf of project opponents.
In a detailed 12-page letter, zoologist Peter Bloom said that unless the grasslands that provide food for the owls are also saved, the birds would vanish from one of the few places they can be found in Orange County.
The staff also cited tribal concerns that there hasn’t been enough archaeological testing to ensure the development doesn’t destroy Native American sites. Previous archaeological digs have found a single burial site, artifacts and evidence of camps at Banning Ranch, which is adjacent to documented prehistoric village sites.
The developer commissioned another archaeological survey this summer, but the staff said it has not reviewed the results.
[email protected]
Twitter: @boxall
ALSO
Steve Lopez reflects back on his 1,100 mile trek down the California coast
Orange County judge rules that Coastal Commission cannot prevent repairs to sea wall at mobile home park
A dangerous confluence on the California coast: beach erosion and sea level rise | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-banning-coastal-20160825-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/50404e803556120aceebc6e08127b64d1ac4f747505348a3b7c65a153df8a814.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jim Puzzanghera"
]
| 2016-08-30T16:49:37 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fla-fi-apple-ireland-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Apple must pay $14.5 billion in back taxes to Ireland, the EU says | null | null | www.latimes.com | The European Union on Tuesday ordered Ireland to collect up to $14.5 billion in back taxes, plus interest, from Apple Inc., after ruling that the technology giant cut an illegal deal that allowed it to pay almost no taxes from 2003 to 2014 on profits for sales throughout the 28-nation region.
The decision, which follows a two-year investigation, marks the biggest step yet in Europe's controversial efforts to crack down on multinational corporations channeling profits through foreign subsidiaries to avoid or reduce tax payments.
U.S. officials have criticized the European Union's push to collect additional taxes from U.S. companies, an effort that also has involved investigations of Starbucks Corp. and Amazon.com, Inc.
But European officials said "selective tax treatment" of some companies gives them an unfair advantage over others.
"Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies — this is illegal under EU state aid rules," said Margrethe Vestager, the top competition official for the European Commission, the EU's executive body.
The tax deal with Ireland, where Apple has two subsidiaries, allowed the Cupertino company to have an effective corporate tax rate of 1% in 2003. The rate fell to 0.005% in 2014, meaning Apple paid just $50 on every $1 million in profits, the commission said.
Ireland is an attractive location for foreign subsidiaries because its 12.5% corporate tax rate is one of the lowest in the developed world. Conversely, the U.S. corporate tax rate of 35% is the highest among the 35 members of the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation, although many companies pay less because of tax breaks.
But a 2013 investigation by a U.S. Senate panel said that Apple had made a deal with Ireland to lower its corporate tax rate even further.
The deal was part of an elaborate web of offshore subsidiaries that allowed Apple to avoid paying at least $15 billion in U.S. taxes on $44 billion in foreign income from 2009-12, according to a bipartisan report by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
The report triggered the European investigation.
In 2013, the Senate panel called Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook to a high-profile hearing in which he insisted the company's tax arrangements were legal and fair.
On Tuesday, Cook defended the company's operations in Ireland, which date to the opening of a factory in Cork in 1980.
"Over the years, we received guidance from Irish tax authorities on how to comply correctly with Irish tax law — the same kind of guidance available to any company doing business there," Cook said in a letter posted on the company's website. "In Ireland and in every country where we operate, Apple follows the law and we pay all the taxes we owe."
Cook said the European Commission's action was "unprecedented and it has serious, wide-reaching implications."
"It is effectively proposing to replace Irish tax laws with a view of what the commission thinks the law should have been," he said. "This would strike a devastating blow to the sovereignty of EU member states over their own tax matters, and to the principle of certainty of law in Europe."
Cook said he was confident that the ruling will be reversed after an appeal by Ireland. Apple stock was down slightly in early trading Tuesday.
The commission ruling ordered Ireland to collect the extra tax revenue from Apple. While Apple has paid "substantially and artificially lowered" taxes to Ireland since 1991, the commission is only allowed to order the recovery of taxes for 10 years before it first requested information about the arrangements in 2013.
Ireland's Finance Minister, Michael Noonan, said Tuesday he would seek approval from his government's cabinet to appeal.
"I disagree profoundly with the commission's decision," he said. "Our tax system is founded on the strict application of the law...without exception."
The U.S. Treasury Department issued a report last week critical of the European Unions tax investigations, saying they could lead to lost tax revenue for the U.S. government and harm cross-border investment. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew has raised his concerns with the president of the European Commission.
In a statement Tuesday, Treasury did not comment specifically on the Apple allegations but said U.S. officials were "disappointed that the commission is acting unilaterally."
"The commission's actions could threaten to undermine foreign investment, the business climate in Europe, and the important spirit of economic partnership between the U.S. and the E.U," Treasury said. | http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-apple-ireland-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c3d1525e768d5a2c1611388cae5a3f8fa515011ad7f89751aca91cee106046dc.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Pedro Moura"
]
| 2016-08-30T22:49:47 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fhc-tim-tebow-baseball-workout-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c60967/turbine/hc-tim-tebow-baseball-workout-0831-20160830 | en | null | Tebow Showcases Baseball Skills, Presses At Plate | null | null | www.latimes.com | LOS ANGELES — Tim Tebow showcased his baseball skills Tuesday before a bevy of scouts on the University of Southern California campus, in a spectacle broadcast by dozens of television cameras, many live.
The 29-year-old former college All-American and NFL quarterback ran a 60-yard dash, threw, caught flies and grounders in the outfield, took standard batting practice and then faced two pitchers with big league experience in live batting practice.
At least 27 of MLB's 30 teams had representatives in attendance.
Scouts queried agreed that Tebow is likely to be signed and assigned to the lower levels of the minors, perhaps high Class A or Double A, as a corner outfielder. His ability to hit in a competitive setting should be discerned after that.
Tebow's agency listed him at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, a rare weight for a big league position player. Still, scouts timed him between 6.6 and 6.8 seconds in the 60-yard dash, generally considered above average for major leaguers. He was said to have strained his oblique muscle in recent days.
His throws from the outfield and fielding were below average, two scouts said.
While batting, Tebow faced former USC pitcher Chad Smith, recently released by Texas, and longtime reliever David Aardsma, who went to camp with Toronto this season. Both men faced him several times in preparation for the event. Tuesday's performance, they each said, was not his best.
"Last week was the third time I threw to him, and it was unreal," Smith said. "You wouldn't believe it. He hit everything. He's improved a lot."
Aardsma said he was scared to face Tebow after the second time he pitched to him, when, he said, he could hardly retire him.
"Today was the worst I've seen him," Aardsma said. "It looked like he was trying really hard, overswinging a bit. It's what you do when you've got 200 people and cameras everywhere and you're the only guy they're watching."
Tebow last played competitive baseball in the spring of 2005 for Nease High in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Since then, he played four years of football for the University of Florida, winning the Heisman Trophy, and three seasons plus two preseasons in the NFL. He has increasingly worked as a broadcaster for ESPN.
Any team who agrees to sign him will be betting that Tebow's superb athletic condition can compensate for a decade without baseball. His hitting abilities, primarily, are in question.
"He's got bat-to-ball," Smith said. "It's gonna be pitch recognition, learning when to swing, when not to swing and just having an approach. But that's in-game experience. That's all he needs."
Smith compared Tebow to former Stanford running back and outfielder Toby Gerhart, the 2009 Heisman runner-up and former NFL player. Aardsma said Tebow's stance reminded him of New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira.
"He was a lot better than I expected," said one scout who requested anonymity because his job does not permit him to submit his evaluations for the public. "But I didn't really expect much." | http://www.latimes.com/hc-tim-tebow-baseball-workout-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/a35e878e4a21ad0e19d2dfcae2848abec11d1b6f8a6a2b04de2f4ff74ee44f69.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T04:49:45 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-a-collection-of-beyonce-performance-1472439240-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c3a8a9/turbine/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-a-collection-of-beyonce-performance-1472439240 | en | null | Beyoncé delivers show-stopping performance; everyone reacts | null | null | www.latimes.com | It's fair to say Beyonce stole the MTV VMAs with an extended performance inspired by "Lemonade." It was also a special evening for Rihanna, who performed throughout the night before Drake presented the Vanguard award to the woman he's "been in love with since [he] was 22 years old." And Britney Spears returned to the VMAs stage; it was an admirable effort, but even those shadow fingers couldn't come close to topping Beyonce. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-a-collection-of-beyonce-performance-1472439240-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/df9c978492abce60102ff9cb288f80677d0b99810ff7b7dda2765910ad197b8e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T04:49:50 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-no-marriage-proposal-1472442865-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c3b49d/turbine/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-no-marriage-proposal-1472442865 | en | null | No marriage proposal? | null | null | www.latimes.com | It's fair to say Beyonce stole the MTV VMAs with an extended performance inspired by "Lemonade." It was also a special evening for Rihanna, who performed throughout the night before Drake presented the Vanguard award to the woman he's "been in love with since [he] was 22 years old." And Britney Spears returned to the VMAs stage; it was an admirable effort, but even those shadow fingers couldn't come close to topping Beyonce. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-no-marriage-proposal-1472442865-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f886813718a6f8e813ef06b7dc6d48cae3c2153427b864a096d67fdc190aaab0.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Barry Stavro"
]
| 2016-08-26T20:49:01 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fsoccer%2Fla-sp-galaxy-tonight-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c09db6/turbine/la-sp-galaxy-tonight-20160826-snap | en | null | Up next for Galaxy: Saturday night vs. Vancouver | null | null | www.latimes.com | GALAXY TONIGHT
VS. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
When: 7:30 p.m. PDT Saturday
On the air: TWCSN, TWCD
Records: Galaxy 9-4-12; Whitecaps 5-10-10
Record vs. Whitecaps: 1-0-1
Update: Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe trained Friday and could return to the net after missing two games with a head injury. Clement Diop started in his place, with the Galaxy losing 0-1 at New York City last Saturday and drawing 2-2 at Chicago on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps have surrendered 43 goals this season, the most of any Western Conference team.
[email protected] | http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy-tonight-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c79c7e9a91a89f9af371b37f8ed4a5a512d6c5399db9a6f120cfddf6afbfbc11.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jim Puzzanghera"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:50:17 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fla-fi-adp-jobs-20160831-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c6c8be/turbine/la-fi-adp-jobs-20160831-snap | en | null | U.S. companies add a solid 177,000 new jobs, ADP says | null | null | www.latimes.com | Private-sector employers added 177,000 net new jobs in August, payroll processing firm Automatic Data Processing said Wednesday, signaling that the labor market is continuing the steady growth that could soon lead to a Federal Reserve interest rate hike.
The figure was down from an upwardly revised 194,000 net new jobs added in July by U.S. companies, ADP said. But the August total was in line with analyst expectations and pointed to another solid jobs report from the Labor Department on Friday.
“The American job machine continues to hum along,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, which assists ADP in preparing the report.
“Job creation remains strong, with most industries and companies of all sizes adding solidly to their payrolls,” he said. “The U.S. economy will soon be at full employment.”
Business and professional services were the main drivers of private-sector job growth in August, increasing their payrolls by 53,000, ADP said.
But two important sectors continued to show weakness. Construction companies shed 2,000 net jobs, better than the 5,000 lost in July but still the third-straight monthly decline.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
And manufacturing payrolls were unchanged in August. The sector had added 5,000 net new jobs the previous month, the first gain since January.
Fed Chairwoman Janet L. Yellen said last week that “continued solid performance” by the labor market was a major reason why the case for another small increase in the central bank’s benchmark interest rate had “strengthened in recent months.”
Friday’s Labor Department jobs report is the last major piece of economic data before monetary policymakers meet Sept. 20-21 to decide whether to nudge up the federal funds rate for the first time since December.
The ADP report is viewed as a harbinger of the Labor Department report, and the new data reinforced economists’ expectations that Friday’s jobs report would show U.S. private- and public-sector employers added 180,000 net new positions in August.
That would be down from a strong 255,000 the previous month, but could be enough for Fed policymakers to enact a small interest rate increase.
The unemployment rate is forecast to have ticked down to 4.8% in August, near a nine-year low.
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Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter
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On-demand laundry start-up Washio shuts down | http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-adp-jobs-20160831-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ccd7b9f77cb0ff0cdc56f1274b2b891ac263524205fe3c02a764b1e0205577e1.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-31T02:50:21 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fpolitics%2Fessential%2Fla-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-new-campaign-donation-disclosure-rules-1472610481-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c640c3/turbine/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-new-campaign-donation-disclosure-rules-1472610481 | en | null | New campaign donation disclosure rules rejected by the state Senate | null | null | www.latimes.com | Lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly rejected an effort to create new disclosure rules for California political mailers and money gathered from several donors into a single contribution.
Assembly Bill 700 failed by a single vote in the state Senate, needing a supermajority of 27 senators to pass.
The complex campaign finance bill became ensnared in a disagreement this month over whether it represented more or less donor disclosure. The state's Fair Political Practices Commission voted to oppose late amendments to AB 700 regarding the disclosure rules for "earmarked" contributions.
The bill sought to address instances where a political contribution is cash collected from a series of donors who ask the identified donor to then "earmark" the money for a particular campaign.
Jodi Remke, the FPPC chair, wrote in a letter last week that the changes to AB 700 would create a "loophole" for some organizations to bypass the contribution limits.
Supporter of the bill disagreed with the FPPC's interpretation, but the disagreement may have proved a distraction in the bill's final days. | http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-new-campaign-donation-disclosure-rules-1472610481-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/e7eb3213a6b313be94fee16c2431cdf9b2337e52c9b1a1b7744e349a4be6ccd8.json |
[
"Daily Pilot",
"Alexia Fernandez"
]
| 2016-08-27T02:51:24 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fdaily-pilot%2Fnews%2Ftn-dpt-me-0827-wu-plea-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0e766/turbine/tn-dpt-me-0827-wu-plea-20160826 | en | null | Rohrabacher's ex-campaign treasurer pleads not guilty to embezzlement | null | null | www.latimes.com | Jack Wu, a former campaign treasurer for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, pleaded not guilty Thursday to grand theft, forgery and other charges in connection with Rohrabacher's accusation that Wu stole campaign funds.
Wu, a Newport Beach resident, was arrested in February. He is charged with three felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, 21 felony counts of forgery with sentencing enhancements for theft exceeding $100,000, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss of more than $200,000, according to the Orange County district attorney's office.
A pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 21 at the county Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
If convicted, Wu could face a maximum sentence of 20 years and four months in state prison.
Wu was Rohrabacher's volunteer treasurer for about seven years. Irregularities in the Costa Mesa Republican's re-election committee funds surfaced last year, when the campaign manager tried to pay a bill with the committee debit card and it was declined. The committee discovered it had only $187 in its bank account and that $170,000 was missing, according to the district attorney's office.
Prosecutors allege Wu stole more than $238,000 from Rohrabacher's campaign chest.
Wu was accused of using some of the money to pay restitution to a company that fired him, according to the district attorney's office.
Rohrabacher released a statement last year saying he was "disappointed and dismayed by this betrayal of trust."
Rohrabacher replaced Wu as treasurer and froze the committee's bank account, according to Rohrabacher's attorney, Charles H. Bell Jr.
Previously, Wu started work for Russell Fischer Inc. in 2008 as a controller with a salary of $70,000, the D.A.'s office said. About four years later, he became an independent contractor for Russell Fischer while running his own accounting company, Wubell Services, prosecutors said. His RFI pay was reduced to $2,000 every two weeks.
RFI fired Wu in September 2013 amid allegations that he collected $83,000 in unauthorized payments from the company, the D.A.'s office said. He agreed to make restitution payments to the company for a year, according to prosecutors.
Wu has written columns about local politics for the Daily Pilot, the Newport Beach Independent and the Orange County Register. | http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0827-wu-plea-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/9d8d474e0509b34f199e4b8f85eb6b079870edc3af5cb5a0f71cc0a3d12b89bf.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T12:48:58 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Freadersreact%2Fla-ol-le-vergara-teacher-tenure-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1221d/turbine/la-ol-le-vergara-teacher-tenure-20160827-snap | en | null | It's not silly for students to believe teacher tenure rules violate their rights | null | null | www.latimes.com | To the editor: Your editorial asserts that the state Supreme Court made the right call when it let the appellate court decision preserving teacher tenure laws stand. I strongly disagree and believe the plaintiff’s constitutional rights were and continue to be violated. (“Now that the Vergara case is over, let's reform teacher tenure laws,” editorial, Aug. 24)
Using the theory of disparate impact, laws or practices in employment, housing or other areas may be considered discriminatory and illegal if they have a disproportionate adverse impact on persons in a protected class. The tenure, seniority and transfer rules for teachers have a huge disparate impact on students at low-income schools. These students should be a protected class, as they are the future of our society.
Teachers at schools with mostly low-income children are more likely to have provisional, emergency or no teaching credentials, have fewer years of experience and have been at the school for fewer years. This is not a “few percent of the educational workforce” at these specific schools.
Your assertion that the claims of the lawsuit “border on the silly” belittles the legitimate grievance of these students.
Steve Murray, Huntington Beach
..
To the editor: Your editorial does not mention the administrators’ role in the problem of too many ineffective teachers. It doesn’t matter if the probationary time is two years, three years, or five years if the teachers are not observed and given guidance.
In my more than 30 years of teaching, I worked under very competent and conscientious administrators. But there were also examples of the opposite.
Administrators need to observe teachers for a full period, not 15 minutes. Their visits should be unannounced so teachers cannot put on a dog and pony show. Sometimes an administrator just wants a body in the classroom and doesn’t care or want to know what is going on.
It is the administrators who are suppose to evaluate the teachers, and thus it is the administrators who allow ineffective teachers to get tenure.
Ilene Oller, Los Angeles
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-vergara-teacher-tenure-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/1ccee8ca5ff81c8bc35ab931b6d3cf946be3504ade8c05f97931f7e47d99e861.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T04:49:53 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-video-of-the-year-award-1472233063-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Beyoncé wins video of the year for 'Formation' | null | null | www.latimes.com | It's fair to say Beyonce stole the MTV VMAs with an extended performance inspired by "Lemonade." It was also a special evening for Rihanna, who performed throughout the night before Drake presented the Vanguard award to the woman he's "been in love with since [he] was 22 years old." And Britney Spears returned to the VMAs stage; it was an admirable effort, but even those shadow fingers couldn't come close to topping Beyonce. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-ms-mtv-vma-live-updates-video-of-the-year-award-1472233063-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/aa13dea8accd97902afdf9711ac009a0880fb7e655da94ce4ad10e520f5fc90a.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mike Digiovanna"
]
| 2016-08-31T06:49:55 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fangels%2Fla-sp-angels-reds-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c666a4/turbine/la-sp-angels-reds-20160830-snap | en | null | Second base still an issue for Angels, who get two homers from Cron in victory over Reds | null | null | www.latimes.com | If left field is a black hole for the Angels, a position that has produced a major league-worst .582 on-base-plus-slugging percentage this season, then second base has become a gray area.
The spot that Howie Kendrick manned so effectively for nine years through 2014 was thrown into a state of flux when Johnny Giavotella, who played second for most of the past two seasons, was designated for assignment Aug. 20 and eventually demoted to triple A.
Cliff Pennington has started 14 games at second in August. Gregorio Petit, who filled in admirably for injured shortstop Andrelton Simmons in May and June, has started five games there this month. And Kaleb Cowart, a third baseman by trade, started at second on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
None of the three has emerged as a favorite for the starting job next season, leaving the Angels in the same position this winter that they were in after trading Kendrick to the Dodgers before 2015: They have no idea who will play second in 2017.
“We’re trying to find a blend of the defensive component with a player who can do some things on the offensive side,” Manager Mike Scioscia said before Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Angel Stadium. “We want to make that a position of strength for us.”
Giavotella wasn’t the answer. He had grit, delivered some clutch hits and entertained with his belly-flop-like slides into third, which earned him the nickname, “The Flying Cannoli.” But he hit only .260 with a .287 on-base percentage, six homers and 31 runs batted in and was barely average defensively.
Scioscia said Pennington and Petit “have given us enough offense with terrific defense,” but Pennington is hitting only .210 with three homers and nine RBIs in 50 games. Petit has been a better hitter, with a .263 average, .317 OBP, two homers and 15 RBIs in 70 games.
Cowart, a first-round pick in 2010, has the most offensive upside of the three, but he played only 14 games at second at Salt Lake before being called up in mid-August and isn’t nearly as comfortable there as he is at third.
“It’s going pretty good so far,” Cowart said. “The double-play turn feels pretty good, and I’m learning the cuts and relays. It’s a different side of the diamond, but it’s still in the dirt, so it’s not completely new.”
The Angels could look to upgrade at second this winter through a trade or free agency. The top two free-agent options are the New York Mets’ Neil Walker, whom the Angels tried to acquire from Pittsburgh last winter, and Colorado’s Daniel Descalso.
Walker, 30, is batting .282 with an .823 OPS, 23 homers and 55 RBIs in 113 games but has a back issue that will require regular rest in September. Descalso, 29, is hitting .270 with a .775 OPS, three homers and 29 RBIs in 75 games.
Power ball
C.J. Cron lined a two-run homer to center field in the first inning and lofted a solo shot over the high wall in right-center in the third to lead the Angels to their sixth win in seven games.
It was the seventh career multi-homer game and fourth this season for Cron, who missed five weeks of July and August because of a broken bone in his left hand. Mike Trout hit two doubles, a single and scored twice, and Simmons had three hits, including an RBI single for an insurance run in the eighth.
Jered Weaver (10-11) gave uptwo runs and eight hits, including Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer in the seventh, in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win, and relievers Mike Morin, Jose Alvarez, J.C. Ramirez and Fernando Salas covered the final eight outs.
Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen, a former Cal State Fullerton right-hander who hit an emotional home run against the Dodgers on Aug. 19, just two days after the death of his father, Clif, gave up a run in two innings.
Angels catcher Jett Bandy gunned down Jose Peraza with a perfect throw to second in the third and has thrown out 18 of 42 (42.9%) would-be base-stealers this season.
Field of dreams
While Tim Tebow has been criticized by some who believe his showcase before a few dozen scouts at USC on Tuesday was more of a publicity stunt, Scioscia has no problem with the former star quarterback pursuing a baseball career.
“I definitely give him credit for wanting to pursue something he thinks he can do,” Scioscia said. “I think everyone should go for their dream. I still have it in mind to be on the 4 X 400-meter relay team in the Olympics, and if I get that opportunity, I’m going to try that … you think I have a shot?”
[email protected]
Twitter: @MikeDiGiovanna | http://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-angels-reds-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/99d0460e8df689e401fb6bd4962ab95ca36cdc524c4ee8872a07f85a1eff3f24.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Gary Klein"
]
| 2016-08-31T02:50:23 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fla-sp-rams-goff-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c63c8e/turbine/la-sp-rams-goff-20160830-snap | en | null | Rams QB Jared Goff could get his first NFL start, even if it's only a preseason game | null | null | www.latimes.com | Jared Goff has played as a reserve in each of the Rams’ three exhibitions, but he could achieve another of his pro football firsts if he starts Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Coach Jeff Fisher declined to say whether Goff would start — “Don’t know yet; there’s a 50-50 chance,” he said Tuesday — but quarterback Case Keenum and the rest of the first-team offense and defense will probably sit out all, or nearly all, of the preseason finale, a game generally regarded as the last chance for players to make impressions before rosters are cut from 75 to 53 players.
“It would be great,” Goff said of starting. “It’s something I’m more used to, kind of getting out there and going in right away instead of trying to warm up again on the sidelines.
“Whatever it is, I’ll be ready.”
Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, will not be under pressure to play at a level that would unseat Keenum as the presumed starter for the Sept. 12 opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
The competition for the starting job failed to materialize because Keenum, a fifth-year pro, has played efficiently while Goff has struggled with rookie mistakes.
Last week, before the Rams played at Denver, Fisher said that he wanted Goff to release passes quicker and take “that next step” in his development. The progression must continue against the Vikings.
“It’s especially important that the ball comes out and that he’s doing the right thing in the run game,” Fisher said. “There’s no telling what we’re going to get out of [the Vikings’] defense. . . . Just improve the decision-making, which he’s done each and every week.”
Goff debuted in the second quarter of the exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys and played only two series. He had a pass intercepted and was sacked before his night was cut short because of soreness in his left shoulder. A week later, Goff fumbled in his first two series against the Kansas City Chiefs but came back to pass for a touchdown.
Last week at Denver, Goff avoided turnovers and was victimized by multiple dropped passes by receivers. He said playing against Super Bowl-champion Broncos exposed him to NFL all-out blitzes.
“Goff’s still learning,” receiver Tavon Austin said after game. “Just like when I came in [to the NFL], I struggled a little bit.
“Everybody goes through that. He’s definitely going to be a great quarterback for us.”
In three exhibitions, Goff has completed 16 of 33 passes for 165 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better over the course of the whole training camp,” he said, “and I feel like I’ve made really good strides.”
Tuesday was the last day of practice at UC Irvine. The Rams will move operations to Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks upon their return from Minneapolis.
“It hasn’t been too painstaking,” Goff said of a training camp that began with his arrival on July 26.
Goff became the focal point of the franchise after the Rams traded to the top of the draft to select him. He said he had enjoyed being part of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series, and joked about omnipresent microphones.
“Everything you say — you look up and there’s a microphone,” he said. “It kind of gets annoying at times but they’ve been great. . . . The crew’s been awesome and it’s been a good experience.”
A solid performance against the Vikings would enable Goff to finish the exhibition season on a high note.
His goal going into the game is no different than any other.
“Try to be as consistent as possible,” he said, “and, again, get the ball to the guys who can make some plays.”
Quick hits
The Rams waived safety Jordan Lomax to reduce their roster to the NFL-mandated 75 players by Tuesday’s 1 p.m. PDT deadline. The team cut 14 players on Monday. “They’re not easy,” Fisher said. “I’ve been doing them for a long time and I do each and every one personally — I’ve always done that. You tell them the truth and you stand behind that. Sometimes, over the years, people disagreed with our opinion, but that’s OK.” . . . Defensive tackle Michael Brockers did not practice. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-rams-goff-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/d167a26b864ef56fe467af3275489a855bb57f550e2d84a135f4c57b0479a2ad.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Tribune News Services"
]
| 2016-08-30T04:49:30 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fct-ice-road-truckers-star-killed-in-plane-crash-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4f6f1/turbine/ct-ice-road-truckers-star-killed-in-plane-crash-20160829 | en | null | 'Ice Road Truckers' star killed in plane crash | null | null | www.latimes.com | A plane crash in western Montana killed a star of the History channel reality series "Ice Road Truckers" who was planning to film a pilot episode of a show about recovering plane wrecks.
Darrell Ward, 52, of Deer Lodge, died in the fiery crash Sunday on the shoulder of Interstate 90 southeast of Missoula, History spokeswoman Susan Ievoli confirmed Monday.
Pilot Mark Melotz appeared to be trying to land at a small airstrip when "something went drastically wrong," Missoula County sheriff's Capt. Bill Burt said Sunday.
Family and friends who were waiting for them said the airplane appeared to stall, then went through a stand of trees, hitting some of them, Burt said. Branches were thrown onto the highway.
Melotz, 56, of Arlee, bought the Cessna 182 on Friday, Burt said. He had flown the airplane to Missoula, where he picked up Ward.
"As best we know, it was a trip from Missoula to that airstrip to visit some friends," Burt said.
Reality star killed in plane crash Tom Bauer / The Missoulian via AP Missoula County sheriff's deputies look at the wreckage of a Cessna 182 that crashed on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The crash killed 52-year-old Darrell Ward of Deer Lodge, a star of the History channel series "Ice Road Truckers" and pilot Mark Melotz, 56, of Arlee. Ward was returning to Montana to film a pilot episode of a documentary-type series about the recovery of plane wrecks. (Tom Bauer/The Missoulian via AP) Missoula County sheriff's deputies look at the wreckage of a Cessna 182 that crashed on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The crash killed 52-year-old Darrell Ward of Deer Lodge, a star of the History channel series "Ice Road Truckers" and pilot Mark Melotz, 56, of Arlee. Ward was returning to Montana to film a pilot episode of a documentary-type series about the recovery of plane wrecks. (Tom Bauer/The Missoulian via AP) (Tom Bauer / The Missoulian via AP) (Tom Bauer / The Missoulian via AP)
Ward appeared on five seasons of "Ice Road Truckers," which follows drivers taking supplies in big rigs across frozen lakes to work camps and remote towns. He drove in Alaska and Canada.
"We are saddened by the tragic loss of Darrell Ward, a beloved member of the HISTORY family," the channel said in a statement. "He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."
The National Transportation Safety Board and thhe Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.
Associated Press | http://www.latimes.com/ct-ice-road-truckers-star-killed-in-plane-crash-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/2129280d36812195729da94dc4f735e05686cd376c9d4f428ea2e424111f8e23.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Neal J. Leitereg"
]
| 2016-08-27T14:48:55 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Frealestate%2Fhot-property%2Fla-fi-hp-hotprop-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b7935d/turbine/la-fi-hp-hotprop-20160827-snap | en | null | Daren Metropoulos takes ownership of Playboy Mansion, Hef included | null | null | www.latimes.com | There’s a new playboy on the Westside.
Daren Metropoulos, the son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos and principal at the investment firm Metropoulos & Co., has closed sale on the legendary Playboy Mansion. The longtime Holmby Hills home and workspace of Hugh Hefner, the mansion sold for $100 million, half of the $200-million asking price.
Still, the sale represents the largest sale ever recorded in Los Angeles County; another sprawling Westside manor, the Fleur de Lys, previously held the record after selling two years ago for $88.3 million.
It’s the end of an era but not quite goodbye for Hefner. The Playboy patriarch and founder is allowed to remain in residence for the remainder of his life. As part of the sale, Playboy Enterprises will pay Metropoulos $1 million a year to lease the property for Hefner, who turned 90 in April.
The three-story Gothic Tudor-style estate known as the Playboy Mansion was listed for sale at $200 million. (Jim Bartsch) (Jim Bartsch)
The mansion’s many statues, gargoyles and arcade games were included in the sale.
Metropoulos is familiar with the property, having bought a neighboring one from Hefner in 2009. He intends to eventually connect the two estates, both designed by Arthur R. Kelly, which abut the Los Angeles Country Club.
Considered architect Kelly’s greatest work, the Playboy Mansion was originally built for department store scion Arthur Letts Jr. in 1927.
The Gothic Tudor-style house has 29 rooms including chef’s and catering kitchens, a game room and a screening room with a built-in pipe organ. Twelve bedrooms are within 20,000 square feet of living space; the master suite spans two floors.
Daren Metropoulos, the 33-year-old son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos, intends to connect the Playboy Mansion to a neighboring property that he purchased in 2009. Courtesy of Daren Metropoulos Daren Metropoulos, the 33-year-old son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos, intends to connect the Playboy Mansion to a neighboring property that he purchased in 2009. Daren Metropoulos, the 33-year-old son of billionaire investor C. Dean Metropoulos, intends to connect the Playboy Mansion to a neighboring property that he purchased in 2009. (Courtesy of Daren Metropoulos)
Exotic birds and other animals roam freely through grounds that include a tennis court, a gymnasium, a four-bedroom guesthouse and the infamous swimming pool and grotto. The estate is also among a select few L.A. homes to have a zoo license.
Gary Gold and Drew Fenton of Hilton & Hyland, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, and Mauricio Umansky of the Agency held the listing for the mansion. Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage represented Metropoulos.
That Metropoulos intends to renovate and restore the mansion to its original form comes as little surprise. The 33-year-old tycoon, working with his father and his brother, Evan, has a reputation for breathing new life into timeworn brands.
Two years ago, Metropoulos & Co. sold Los Angeles-based Pabst Brewing Co. for more than $700 million in cash, or $550 million more than what the company paid for it in 2010. Perrier-Jouët Champagne, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Bumble Bee Tuna are among the other brands bought and flipped by the firm.
Call it a double feature
A pair of side-by-by estates owned by actor-producer-director Tom Hanks and his wife, actress-producer Rita Wilson, are for sale in Pacific Palisades. Located in the Palisades Riviera area, the adjacent homes are offered separately at $9.25 million and $8.75 million, or for a combined $18 million.
The 1930s home on more than half an acre in the Palisades Riviera area was once owned by late screenwriter and film director Frank Pierson. (Realtor.com) (Realtor.com)
The less expensive of the two houses, a Spanish Revival-style villa built in 1933, retains its Old World ambiance with such details as beamed ceilings, wood floors and original fixtures, ironwork and tile. A step-down living room, paneled dining room, library/den, four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms lie within nearly 4,000 square feet of interiors.
Outdoors, hedged grounds are filled with various sitting areas, lawns and a fountain feature.
Next door, the more expensive of the two homes is an English traditional built in 1957. Designed for small- and large-scale entertaining, the 7,300 square feet of living space includes formal living and dining rooms, a screening room and a pub/billiard room with fireplace.
The Traditional-style home in the Palisades Riviera area has seven bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms in about 7,300 square feet of space. (Realtor.com) (Realtor.com)
Seven bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms include a master suite with a redone bathroom and his and hers closets. A playroom is on the third floor.
Both estates take in sweeping canyon views.
Hanks and Wilson acquired the properties in separate off-market transactions in 2003 and 2007 totaling a little over $13.1 million. The couple also own a third contiguous property on the same street that is not for sale.
Mary Lu Tuthill of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage and David Offer of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties hold the listings.
Hanks, 60, has acting credits including “Big” (1988), “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) and “Cast Away” (2000), which he also produced. He won lead-actor Oscars for his roles in “Philadelphia” (1993) and “Forrest Gump” (1994). He will appear in “Sully,” the story of pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, later this year.
Wilson, 59, appeared with Hanks in "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993). She has also appeared on the TV series “Girls” and “The Good Wife” and produced the 2002 film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and its sequel, released this year.
He’s dealing in pairs
Funnyman and television host Howie Mandel has bought a pair of condos in downtown Santa Monica in separate, off-market deals totaling $4 million.
The larger of the two units, purchased earlier this year for $2.5 million, features a trilevel floor plan with steel beams, 14-foot ceilings and walls of south-facing windows. A galley-style kitchen with a brick backsplash opens to a living/dining area.
Upstairs, there’s an office, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. A media room with an 80-inch television also lies within the 1,900 square feet of living space.
The two condominium units reside in the same William Dale Brantley-designed building in downtown Santa Monica. (Realtor.com) (Realtor.com)
The smaller unit, a ground-floor condo purchased for $1.5 million, has similar raised ceilings and exposed steel beams plus mahogany wood floors. More than 1,450 square feet of interiors includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
There’s also a private, hedged patio, side-by-side parking and two storage units.
With the purchases, Mandel now owns three units in the William Dale Brantley-designed building. Last year, he bought a two-story penthouse with an elevator and a full-floor private garden for $5.3 million in another deal completed off-market.
Mandel, 60, has been a judge on the reality competition series “America’s Got Talent” since 2010 and previously hosted “Deal or No Deal” from 2005 to 2009. The onetime stand-up comic is also known for voicing the character Bobby on the animated series “Bobby’s World.”
A residential ‘Trump’ card
What do you get the Donald Trump supporter who seemingly has everything? This home in Beverly Hills might fit the bill. | http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hp-hotprop-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/dcd457797d89ac424c1f63d337902af4bed8860bc1641301833906a37953da9e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Michael Schaub"
]
| 2016-08-29T18:49:41 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbooks%2Fjacketcopy%2Fla-et-jc-amazon-bookstore-chicago-20160829-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c465d4/turbine/la-et-jc-amazon-bookstore-chicago-20160829-snap | en | null | Amazon's brick-and-mortar bookstore expansion to include Chicago | null | null | www.latimes.com | Amazon has set its sights on Chicago. The online retailer will open Amazon Books, a brick-and-mortar bookstore in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The store will be the fourth confirmed location for Amazon Books. The first, in the company's hometown of Seattle, opened in November.
In February, word spread that Amazon planned to open hundreds of brick-and-mortar bookstores around the country, based on a comment by a mall operator. The online retailer refused to confirm the rumor, and the comment was later withdrawn.
However, Amazon has quietly continued to make plans for opening physical bookstores. One is coming to San Diego and Tigard, Ore., a city near Portland. Both of those stores are scheduled to open later this year.
In July, the New York Post reported that Amazon was planning to open a physical location in Manhattan, although the company has yet to confirm or deny plans for the Big Apple.
The news of the Chicago store was confirmed by Amazon spokeswoman Deborah Bass, who said, "We are excited to be bringing Amazon Books to Southport in Chicago."
The Chicago location of Amazon Books will be in Chicago's historic Lakeview neighborhood, the home of Wrigley Field and Boystown, the city's largest LGBT community.
It's also within a mile of two independent bookstores, Bookworks and the Gallery Bookstore Ltd., and just over a mile from indie booksellers Unabridged Books and Bookman's Corner.
Independent bookstores have long had an icy relationship with Amazon, which is frequently blamed for lagging sales in small businesses. Amazon raised eyebrows in the bookselling community earlier this year after plans for its Oregon bookstore — which will be 10 miles from indie retailer Powell's — were revealed.
The Seattle location of Amazon Books is the only one that has opened for business. The store sells not just books, but Amazon devices such as the Kindle e-reader and Fire TV.
Amazon's Chicago store, which will be in the home of a now-closed Irish-themed pub, is set to open in 2017.
Caption Krys Lee's Koreatown Novelist Krys Lee on being inspired by Koreatown, and finding a family among North Korean refugees. Novelist Krys Lee on being inspired by Koreatown, and finding a family among North Korean refugees. Caption Pages bookstore flourishes in Manhattan Beach Launched in the age of Amazon, Pages bookstore is thriving in Manhattan Beach. Launched in the age of Amazon, Pages bookstore is thriving in Manhattan Beach.
ALSO:
Colson Whitehead's novel “The Underground Railroad” is timely, necessary and shattering
Is Amazon really going to open hundreds of brick-and-mortar bookstores?
Amazon to open brick-and-mortar bookstore in Oregon just 10 miles from indie giant Powell's | http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-amazon-bookstore-chicago-20160829-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/b46ddd14f2163183ffc9c848cf25582a24ee673c0a88b6ea79b1610e45af3911.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Alex Golden"
]
| 2016-08-29T16:49:51 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Ftravel%2Fla-tr-cheap-stay-la-budget-20160725-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b73059/turbine/la-tr-cheap-stay-la-budget-20160725-snap | en | null | Where you can stay in L.A. for around $100 a night or less | null | null | www.latimes.com | There’s plenty to see and do in Los Angeles, but it comes at a cost--about $200 a night, according to the Statista website.
Granted, that’s not as much as, say, San Francisco, where you’ll pay about $300, or New York, which can run $330, but it can add up to a big chunk of change.
If you look hard enough, you’ll find hidden gems around the L.A. area that won’t break your bank.
In June and July, I explored three budget-friendly places across Los Angeles, chosen for the variety of experiences. I spent time with the people who run them and stayed at them to get a sense of what you can get for $100 or less in L.A. Here is what I found.
Hostelling International
Santa Monica
Front entrance to Hostelling, on 2nd Street in Santa Monica. Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times Front entrance to Hostelling, on 2nd Street in Santa Monica. Front entrance to Hostelling, on 2nd Street in Santa Monica. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
Hostels, where people share rooms with strangers, are a classic low-budget option.
Hostelling International is a chain, and its Santa Monica lodging can accommodate up to 273 guests a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.
You’ll encounter a global crowd here, and pub crawls and movie nights make introductions to your travel mates easy.
On one recent night, guests met in Rapp’s Saloon before a pub crawl. The hosts, volunteer Will Kastarian and community engagement coordinator Bevin Ochoa, briefed about 10 travelers from Australia, the Netherlands and Brazil on U.S. tipping culture and what to expect from the four bars on their itinerary.
Such gatherings also are a way to meet locals, said Ochoa, who helps coordinate events and outings that include movie, poetry and comedy nights, city tours and concerts at the pier.
Budget is partly what brought friends Laura Skinner, 26, and Lucy Nathanson, 26, to the Santa Monica hostel. The Brits were on a road trip and were looking for inexpensive digs.
“It’s nice to have your own room,” said Skinner, who stayed in one of the hostel’s traditional multi-person rooms rather than a private room. But, she said, “It’s equally nice to chat and meet new people.”
Accommodations: The economy rooms that house eight to 10 same-sex guests and the standard rooms that house six same-sex guests share hall bathrooms. There are also six- and 10-person rooms (same sex) with ensuite bathrooms and private rooms with bathrooms that house two, three or four guests.
Costs: About $40-$60 a night per person, but prices vary based on the season. The private rooms are about $140-$230 for the room, not per person.
Info: Hostelling International, 1436 2nd St.; Santa Monica.; (310) 393-9913, www.hilosangeles.org.
PodShare
Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood; Los Feliz coming soon
PodShare in downtown Los Angeles. Elvina Beck PodShare in downtown Los Angeles. PodShare in downtown Los Angeles. (Elvina Beck)
At the communal-living PodShare, guests can stay one night or indefinitely.
The goal is to provide affordable accommodations so travelers can enjoy the fruits of L.A., said owner Elvina Beck, who opened the first PodShare in Hollywood in 2012 and was joined a year later by Kera Package.
“Why do you need to spend $100 to $300 on a hotel to be by yourself?” Beck said.
Tiffany Wilson, 28, came to L.A. from Michigan to search for a job in TV production, she said. She stayed at a Motel 6 and paid $400 for four nights before switching to PodShare, where four nights cost about half that.
Wilson acknowledged she was a little worried about the clientele. “I thought it would be a whole bunch of weirdos,” she said.
But she found that most of the people were involved in the arts, around her age and new to L.A.
Beck and Package provide plenty of information on the city, telling guests about the best coffee shops or how to get to the beach. They often invite guests to parties, dinner or other outings.
Each pod has a bed, TV, shelves and some storage space. The pods face one another.
One thing that’s almost completely absent: privacy. The pods do not have walls, doors or curtains.
“Podestrians” can work, eat or hang out in an upstairs loft area.
Accommodations: The downtown PodShare has 18 pods; it has an open floor plan in which the pods face one another, a kitchen, a bathroom with two stalls and two showers, a common room with couches and gaming system.
Hollywood has two pods, a large communal work space that also has a projector and gaming system, a communal kitchen, a bathroom with one shower and one stall. Eight more pods are being added along with another stall and shower in the bathroom.
Los Feliz will have 12 pods as well as a kitchen, bathroom and eating area, but no other communal areas.
Costs: A pod costs $40 to $50 a night or $250 a week. The price includes basics such as bedding, utilities, Wi-Fi and toiletries besides some communal food, Netflix and access to a bicycle.
Info: PodShare Downtown, 100 S. Vignes St.; (213) 973-7741, podshare.co. Hollywood, 1617 Cosmo St. Los Feliz location to be announced.
Hollywood Downtowner Inn
Hollywood
The Downtowner is a more traditional accommodation but is still a budget option. Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times The Downtowner is a more traditional accommodation but is still a budget option. The Downtowner is a more traditional accommodation but is still a budget option. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Require a little more privacy or have a more traditional view of vacation accommodations? A motel might be for you, but even those can prove costly.
I couldn’t stay at the Hollywood Downtowner Inn because it was booked (so reserve well in advance), but I did talk to guests and take a tour of the inn, where rooms can cost as little as $100 a night before taxes.
The inn, which is on Hollywood Boulevard, has a swimming pool and includes breakfast at Catch 56, a British-themed restaurant on the same block as the motel.
“We just want it to be a place where [guests] feel like they can go out, do their thing in a big city and come back and relax,” said Shaila Mulji, the property manager.
Although the inn rarely has long-term guests and generally does not offer weekly or monthly rates, Mulji said those are case-by-case discussions and decisions.
Not all of the 33 rooms are identical; the furniture and decor vary. In some, you may find a bathtub and, in others, a shower. | http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-cheap-stay-la-budget-20160725-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/3205467f0bae28a339ee84739e3f82ec0ff35c285b4a2ab1ced71007f34fd850.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-29T18:49:50 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fpolitics%2Fessential%2Fla-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-your-turn-to-ask-the-u-s-senate-1472495006-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c480fb/turbine/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-your-turn-to-ask-the-u-s-senate-1472495006 | en | null | Your turn to ask the U.S. Senate candidates a question | null | null | www.latimes.com | It's been more than 2-1/2 decades since California has had an open U.S. Senate seat, and the campaigns have been very quiet this summer.
As Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) campaign to replace Sen. Barbara Boxer, what do you want to know from the candidates?
The Times' politics team will be posing a series of questions to the two Democrats about what they would do for the Golden State if elected to the U.S. Senate, and we want your help.
Tweet your questions to @latpoliticsCA by the end of the week and we'll select some of the best ones to include in our candidate questionnaire. | http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-your-turn-to-ask-the-u-s-senate-1472495006-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c6e2e3f2073d989f76bd3b7c94c089c3547bef5aaab21bf6e9d75a6cb27801e8.json |
[
"Daily Pilot",
"Hannah Fry"
]
| 2016-08-27T02:51:28 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fdaily-pilot%2Fnews%2Ftn-dpt-me-banning-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0f741/turbine/tn-dpt-me-banning-20160826 | en | null | Coastal Commission staff calls for big cut in Banning Ranch building plan to help protect owl habitat | null | null | www.latimes.com | California Coastal Commission staff wrote in a report released Friday that for it to recommend approval of the hotly debated Banning Ranch development proposal, the project's footprint needs to be scaled back to about a third of the current plan.
Newport Banning Ranch LLC has proposed building 895 homes, a 75-room hotel, a 20-bed hostel and 45,100 square feet of retail space on about 62 acres of the 401-acre Newport Beach coastal spread. Most of the rest, about 329 acres, would be preserved as natural open space with public trails, plans show.
However, Coastal Commission staff members wrote that they only would sign off on development of about 19.7 acres that fall outside of areas they have identified as environmentally sensitive habitat.
Sam Singer, a spokesman for the project, said the development team is reviewing the report to determine whether the project is viable, given the staff's recommendation.
"At first glance, we are deeply concerned and disappointed that the staff report doesn't appear to reflect the discussions or agreements we've made with Coastal Commission staff over the last year," Singer said.
He said the recommendation eliminates many of "the benefits that would open and clean up the property and provide access to the California coastline."
The project is expected to go before the 12-member Coastal Commission for consideration Sept. 7 in Newport Beach. Singer said Friday that Newport Banning Ranch intends to present its project at that time.
In May, staff identified about 55 acres of the site as having potential for development. The reduction in the recommended buildable area boils down to a foraging area for the burrowing owl, which has been present at Banning Ranch for decades.
Staff in May determined that the owl's wintering burrows on the site were an environmentally sensitive habitat area and assigned a buffer to it. However, staff did not identify the owl's separate foraging habitat as a protected area, which was scrutinized by biologists who noted that without protecting the foraging space, protecting the burrow habitat was basically pointless, according to the staff report.
"Thus, even with their burrow habitat protected and designated ESHA, there would be no food source and the owls would be extirpated from the site and from the region," staff wrote. "As such, the ESHA determination has been revised to reflect that the grasslands of the site rise to the level of ESHA because of the special role they serve as valuable habitat for the sensitive owl species."
Staff also is recommending conditions to eliminate a proposed thoroughfare known as Bluff Road, which would run through the property to connect West Coast Highway with 17th Street.
Staff noted that the plan for Bluff Road tries to minimize effects on two arroyos on the property but still would have a direct impact on wetland habitat and other sensitive areas.
Staff wrote the project instead could be supported by existing roads around the site.
The report is the latest development in a back-and-forth relationship between Newport Banning Ranch and the Coastal Commission.
The developer originally proposed 1,375 homes, 75,000 square feet of retail space, a hostel and several parks on about 95 acres. That plan was approved by the Newport Beach City Council in 2012.
But after an eight-hour hearing last October, the commission, which has final say over development along California's coast, sent Newport Banning Ranch back to the drawing board to make significant cuts to the project's footprint and scope.
Commissioners and staff suggested at the time that they likely would favor "less intense" development. They also cited merits of the project, including opening the land for public use and condensing oil operations that have long occupied the site.
In May, staff recommended approval of the development with a series of conditions to further reduce its footprint, but the developer opted to postpone a hearing before the commission, saying some issues remained unresolved and that it needed more time to review the staff's proposal. | http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-banning-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/8bcf141bdc1d1a1e55453f9bc75ef8a0c0d5c013428afdc486cbd757387839db.json |
[
"Glendale News Press",
"Alene Tchekmedyian"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:15:29 | null | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fglendale-news-press%2Fnews%2Ftn-gnp-me-arrest-20160812-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57ae0f48/turbine/tn-gnp-me-arrest-20160812 | en | null | Arrest made in Glendale kidnapping attempts | null | null | www.latimes.com | A 52-year-old Glendale woman was arrested early Friday morning in connection with two back-to-back child abduction attempts near local schools that left parents on edge.
Detectives worked around-the-clock this week to identify Lisa Arnold, who is suspected of trying to kidnap a baby in a stroller and, 20 minutes later and a mile away, a 2-year-old boy, said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William.
Investigators, who spent the night doing interviews and serving search warrants, are still working to determine a motive.
The first incident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
Mother fights off would-be kidnapper A mother fights off a would-be kidnapper in Glendale. A mother fights off a would-be kidnapper in Glendale. See more videos
A mother pushing her infant in a stroller near Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street noticed a stranger park her car in a red zone and walk toward her.
"He’s so cute,” the suspect said of the baby, before trying to lift him up. The baby, however, was buckled into the stroller.
The suspect then hurriedly attempted to unbuckle the strap, but the mother pushed her away.
After the brief struggle, the stranger walked back to her silver, four-door hatchback and drove off.
About 20 minutes later, outside John Marshall Elementary School, an 8-year-old boy called police to report that a woman with a deep, man-like voice tried to snatch his 2-year-old brother.
The suspect had pulled up to a curb, walked up to the family and picked up the toddler.
"He’s so cute,” the stranger said, again.
The child’s mother slapped or punched the stranger's arm, after which she put the child down, walked back to a four-door, silver sedan and drove away.
While witnesses in the two incidents offered different descriptions of the suspect, police believe Arnold acted alone.
The kidnapping attempts left Glendale parents and school officials on high alert this week.
Parent Diana Avila walked her 6-year-old son to school Thursday morning, clutching Mace in one hand, her son’s hand in the other.
Another parent, Catrina Gordon, planned to walk around the campus for a couple hours Thursday after dropping off her daughter.
The investigation is ongoing.
--
Alene Tchekmedyian, [email protected]
Twitter: @atchek
--
ALSO
Through sheer word of mouth, Art Johnson has become the go-to handyman for locals
57-year-old man suspected of dating, soliciting 16-year-old girl
'Super scooper' planes, on loan from Canada, bolster local firefighters' aerial arsenal | http://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-me-arrest-20160812-story.html | en | 2016-08-12T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f23cfaed23fdd374ee3d980be66c17c60e6cd26227fc7928354cf300302a798a.json |
[
"Daily Pilot",
"Alexia Fernandez"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:16:38 | null | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fdaily-pilot%2Fnews%2Ftn-dpt-me-0824-bulldog-rescue-20160823-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bccfb6/turbine/tn-dpt-me-0824-bulldog-rescue-20160823 | en | null | Blind bulldog rescued after 3 days in a Costa Mesa well | null | null | www.latimes.com | A 14-year-old blind bulldog is in good condition after he was rescued Saturday in Costa Mesa, three days after falling to the bottom of a well in his owner's backyard, authorities said.
Angus, an English bulldog, was rescued just before 2 p.m. on Elden Avenue.
Capt. Chris Coates, public information officer for Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue, said the department received a call about a trapped dog just before 1 p.m. Saturday.
"He was about 10 feet in the ground," Coates said. "Our units realized we didn't have the correct tools to dig him out on the scene, so we called Urban Search & Rescue," a heavy rescue vehicle housed at a Costa Mesa fire station.
It took an hour to get Angus from the bottom of the well and into the arms of his owner, Robyn Hubbard.
Coates said Hubbard and a neighbor were searching Hubbard's backyard after she discovered Wednesday that Angus was missing.
Hubbard told KCBS-TV/2 that her neighbor found a hole in the ground that Hubbard didn't know was there.
"She started crawling around, and all of a sudden she's like, 'Did you know about this hole?' And I said, 'What hole? What are you talking about?'" Hubbard said.
Angus suffers from seizures and had about seven during the week before he went missing, Coates said. It was uncertain whether Angus had any seizures while he was in the hole, Coates said.
"I think everyone was concerned that he'd have injuries," Coates said. "A 10-foot fall is enough to hurt anyone. But fortunately, he was just thirsty and hungry, according to the vet." | http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0824-bulldog-rescue-20160823-story.html | en | 2016-08-23T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/a4f79d3d8fae3e6e8e6e9406addb243e6ec87ae9fd457ce9193dc46a939e9459.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Meredith Woerner"
]
| 2016-08-30T22:50:04 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fherocomplex%2Fla-et-hc-jurassic-world-muesum-philadelphia-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5eba8/turbine/la-et-hc-jurassic-world-muesum-philadelphia-20160830-snap | en | null | 'Jurassic World' exhibit opening at a Philadelphia museum because kids love dinosaurs and tempting fate | null | null | www.latimes.com | “Jurassic World,” the 2015 blockbuster extension of the “Jurassic Park” series is going to be recreated in Philadelphia, seemingly by people who have never seen a single film from the franchise. Someone needs to inform this group that the dinosaurs win, every time.
On Nov. 25, the “Jurassic World: The Exhibition" will make it’s North American premiere at the Franklin Institute. According to the news release, the movie tie-in will include life-size animatronic dinosaurs from the folks behind popular “Walking with Dinosaurs” experience (Creature Technology Co.) “set in themed environments inspired by ‘Jurassic World.’”
The educational experience promises to focus more on the real world science behind dinosaurs and less on the movie’s iffy cloning technology or step-by-step guide on how not to manage a popular theme park.
But we still have our fingers crossed for a diorama that showcases Vincent D'Onofrio being eaten alive by genetically altered raptors.
"Jurassic World: The Exhibition" at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The Franklin Institute "Jurassic World: The Exhibition" at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. "Jurassic World: The Exhibition" at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. (The Franklin Institute)
The paleontologist who served as advisor on “Jurassic World,” Jack Horner, is the guiding hand behind the exhibit, which promises displays of authentic fossils and plenty of “paleontological specimens.”
However, if you look at the publicity reel, there’s still plenty of science fiction in there, including a “Creation Lab” along with the “raptor-training paddock” actor Chris Pratt manned in “Jurassic World.” There’s even a “VIP” experience for guests who want to pretend they’re funding a corporate-sponsored mutant dinosaur.
All our love will go to the child who shows up and asks, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should,” in each room.
The exhibit originally premiered in Melbourne, Australia and will run at the Franklin Institute through April 2017.
Caption Norman Reedus on the secret Walking Dead' cast Comic-Con ritual Norman Reedus talks about coming to San Diego Comic-Con International and the secret ritual he and the rest of the "Walking Dead" cast partake in during the early hours of the convention. Norman Reedus talks about coming to San Diego Comic-Con International and the secret ritual he and the rest of the "Walking Dead" cast partake in during the early hours of the convention. Caption Norman Reedus on the secret Walking Dead' cast Comic-Con ritual Norman Reedus talks about coming to San Diego Comic-Con International and the secret ritual he and the rest of the "Walking Dead" cast partake in during the early hours of the convention. Norman Reedus talks about coming to San Diego Comic-Con International and the secret ritual he and the rest of the "Walking Dead" cast partake in during the early hours of the convention. Caption The cast of 'Orphan Black' reveal what they want to see resolved in the series finale The cast of "Orphan Black" talks about the final season of the show. The cast of "Orphan Black" talks about the final season of the show. Caption Charlie Hunnam on the hyper-stylized antics of 'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword' Charlie Hunnam comes to San Diego Comic-Con International to talk about "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword." Charlie Hunnam comes to San Diego Comic-Con International to talk about "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword." Caption Comic-Con: Ana Gasteyer and Wyatt Cenac on 'People of Earth' Ana Gasteyer and Wyatt Cenac of "People of Earth" visit Comic-Con. Ana Gasteyer and Wyatt Cenac of "People of Earth" visit Comic-Con. Caption Comic-Con: Vanessa Hudgens and the cast of 'Powerless' The cast of "Powerless" describes what it's like to live in a world full of superheroes. The cast of "Powerless" describes what it's like to live in a world full of superheroes.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »
[email protected]
Twitter: @MdellW | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-jurassic-world-muesum-philadelphia-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ed232569e834ec36fb17be49c01a7a09b80ff4a7d1e4362bcd58fb99ea5c6a8d.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T04:49:31 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-hey-it-s-preseason-broncos-go-1472354687-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Hey, it's preseason: Broncos go three-and-out, again | null | null | www.latimes.com | Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch took a shot deep down the middle to receiver Jordan Taylor only to see the ball hit the ground.
Devontae Booker got another carry, only it went nowhere and then Lynch had another incompletion to end the drive.
A punt return and penalty later and the Rams will start their next drive on their own 34-yard line. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-hey-it-s-preseason-broncos-go-1472354687-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/5bcaf745bc18741e93322447dd703dcaa291f7493337b5d7169f67b663956d2e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Bonnie Mccarthy"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:49:34 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Frealestate%2Fhot-property%2Fla-fi-hotprop-clearly-20160823-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf37b0/turbine/la-fi-hotprop-clearly-20160823-snap | en | null | Home of the Day: Clearly contemporary in Pacific Palisades | null | null | www.latimes.com | A floating staircase, 13-foot retractable glass doors and transparent exterior partitions speak to the strong contemporary aesthetic and indoor-outdoor philosophy that defines this newly built home.
The clean, minimalist lines are elegantly softened with warm, natural wood cabinetry and paneling, and a curvaceous soaking tub.
Address: 716 El Medio Ave., Pacific Palisades, 90272
Price: $4.195 million
Built: 2016
Lot size: 6,586 square feet
House size: 4,900 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 6 bathroom
The multilevel home opens onto outdoor living spaces that include an outdoor kitchen, roof deck, fire pits and lap pool with spa. (DNA Photography) (DNA Photography)
Features: Formal entry; gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances; floating staircase; 13-foot floor-to-ceiling Fleetwood glass doors; master suite with fireplace, stand-alone soaking tub; private decks; 5 en-suite bedrooms; guest quarters with private entrance; rooftop deck; converted garage; dance studio; lap pool and spa; multiple fire pits; outdoor kitchen with Viking appliances; contemporary landscape
About the area: The median sale price for single-family homes in the 90272 ZIP Code in July was $2.632 million based on 34 sales, according to CoreLogic. That was a 17% increase in median price compared with the same month a year earlier.
Agents: Mary Cronin, Joanne Smith, Power Brokers International, 310-402-5593
To submit a candidate for Home of the Day, send high-resolution color photos via Dropbox.com, permission from the photographer to publish the images and a description of the house to [email protected].
Follow Bonnie McCarthy on Twitter @ThsAmericanHome | http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-clearly-20160823-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c541b8c93894b1ee95accf59a0eede8840ae36c70da83835fb2ea3a5ed01212e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T14:48:56 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fpolitics%2Ftrailguide%2Fla-na-trailguide-updates-biden-on-the-u-s-role-in-the-world-1472265289-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1a0d2/turbine/la-na-trailguide-updates-biden-on-the-u-s-role-in-the-world-1472265289 | en | null | Vice President Joe Biden, on the U.S. role in the world: 'It’s like "Ghostbusters" ' | null | null | www.latimes.com | Vice President Joe Biden compared the U.S. role in the world to “Ghostbusters" as he said the nation must be involved but selective in responding to global crises.
“It’s like ‘Ghostbusters,’ man. When there’s a problem anywhere else, call Ghostbusters,” Biden said, referring to the 1984 movie — and 2016 reboot — about scientists who took on the paranormal, which was remade this year, and the signature line from its theme song: “If there’s somethin’ strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!”
“We’re Ghostbusters,” Biden went on, “so it makes sense that we are there to help them because it helps us.”
Biden made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with the Atlantic in which he also discussed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s demeanor and foreign policy.
Biden spoke about his meetings with Clinton when she was secretary of State, saying that she came to him seeking advice, and pushing back at the notion that she is “stiff-necked.”
“She is much better than people think,” Biden said. “… Hillary has an open mind. I know she knows this, and I think that she can use her reputation for being hard-edged to some advantage. Everybody talks about her having a terrible relationship with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. That’s not such a bad thing right now because he knows he can’t push her around.”
Biden, who ran for president himself and considered another run this cycle, said he thought Clinton would be successful. Still, he offered some advice to the first woman to ever lead a major party’s presidential ticket.
“I am more optimistic about her chances, in large part, because of [Donald Trump]. But the truth is, and she says she’s no Bill Clinton, she’s not a natural — and sometimes paranoia is justified, you know? She has been so battered for so long,” Biden said. “But you understand my advice to Hillary to open up, to show your soul a little more, show your vulnerability. I could understand why, given her experiences, after 40 years of what she’s been through, that’s a hard thing to do.” | http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-biden-on-the-u-s-role-in-the-world-1472265289-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/56a4ca021abd14f870cbe5ca60af8dd227776ef55fd1275437d9cafe364747e2.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Molly Hennessy-Fiske"
]
| 2016-08-30T20:49:58 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fnation%2Fla-na-texas-guns-20160830-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5e584/turbine/la-na-texas-guns-20160830-snap | en | null | Texas sues to enforce right to carry guns in county courthouse | null | null | www.latimes.com | Responding to complaints from gun-rights advocates pushing for greater access to public buildings, the Texas attorney general has sued a southeast Texas county that tried to ban guns from its courthouse.
“A local government cannot be allowed to flout Texas’s licensed carry laws, or any state law, simply because it disagrees with the law or doesn’t feel like honoring it,” Republican Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton said in a statement announcing the lawsuit Tuesday against Waller County, about 55 miles west of Houston. “I will vigilantly protect and preserve the 2nd Amendment rights of Texans.”
Waller County Judge Trey Duhon said the announcement wasn’t a surprise: Earlier this month, the attorney general’s office substantiated a complaint about the county’s action and notified Waller officials that if they didn’t respond in 15 days, they could face a lawsuit.
“We fully expected it to be filed, and we look forward to a hearing on the merits,” Duhon said. “We believe we are fully complying with what the Texas Legislature intended.”
It appears Waller County will be a test case of a law passed last year that forbids state and local officials from posting signs restricting the concealed carrying of handguns by lawful permit holders. People objecting to such signs can file complaints with local agencies and the attorney general’s office, which is charged with investigating and taking possible offenders to court. Violators could face a $10,500 daily fine.
“We are anxious to have the issue resolved by the courts so that all Texans can be safe and sure about the law,” Waller County Dist. Atty. Elton Mathis said.
Before Tuesday, the Texas attorney general’s office had taken only one local agency to court over the complaints — the city of Austin — and that case is pending. The office did not have a tally of complaints filed.
Gun-rights advocates with the group Open Carry Texas have filed complaints against 63 local entities over gun bans. The Rev. Terry Holcomb, founder of another gun-rights group, Texas Carry, filed a complaint against Waller County’s courthouse, which has signs at the entrances warning it’s a felony to bring guns inside.
He filed similar complaints against 75 other local government entities and said 26 since have dropped their gun bans.
Not Waller County officials, though. Instead, they struck back, suing him last month for $100,000 in damages. Holcomb counter-sued this month, alleging the county filed suit to intimidate and shut him up.
“It’s extremely fitting that the attorney general is going to take lawless Waller County to task for their criminal behavior,” Holcomb said. “We’re going to prevail.”
If state law prohibits banning guns from courthouses and other public buildings, why do officials keep posting signs? The answer is that another state law allows them to bar carrying handguns “on the premises of a government court.”
See more of our top stories on Facebook »
Gun-rights advocates say that provision applies to courtrooms, but officials in Waller County and elsewhere say it means entire courthouses, including associated offices, such as those for tax assessors.
The three-story Waller County courthouse, built of limestone and red brick in 1955, has a single elevator, staircase and narrow hallways that do not lend themselves to having security checkpoints at every turn, Duhon said. If people were allowed to carry guns inside, he said the county would have to add checkpoints and hire additional bailiffs.
About 2,600, or 6%, of Waller County residents are licensed to carry handguns, according to state figures. Earlier this year, Texas surpassed a million licensed handgun owners — 1,069,706 as of June 30, about 4% the state’s 27 million residents.
[email protected]
Twitter: @mollyhf
ALSO
How Texas governments are trying, sometimes unsuccessfully, to keep guns out of public buildings
Aurora massacre survivors sued. How did 4 end up owing the theater $700,000?
78 homicides, more than 400 people shot: This month has been Chicago’s most violent in 20 years | http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-texas-guns-20160830-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/c9e1065a51750770d8c0a8ea34ffd63a012a4f01b1d7cdc3fc3ecf5a596122db.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eric Sondheimer"
]
| 2016-08-28T22:49:24 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fhighschool%2Fvarsity-times%2Fla-sp-vi-football-san-fernando-makes-improvement-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Football: San Fernando makes improvement | null | null | www.latimes.com | San Fernando's 24-0 season-opening victory over Cleveland this past weekend might signal improvement in the Tigers.
Coach Robert Garcia has been playing lots of young players in recent years.
Junior defensive end Ray Paniagua recorded three sacks.
"They've all matured," Garcia said. "The quarterback is making good decisions. The receivers are bigger and stronger."
San Fernando wil have to challenge Canoga Park to win the Valley Mission League.
For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter | http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/varsity-times/la-sp-vi-football-san-fernando-makes-improvement-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/a403bf830cae168e73a4200a0443980dd9f97231d69bfc240b5fdb11959ac0ad.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Associated Press"
]
| 2016-08-26T22:48:56 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fautos%2Fla-fi-hy-truck-speed-limit-20160826-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c08de9/turbine/la-fi-hy-truck-speed-limit-20160826-snap | en | null | Make big trucks and buses physically unable to speed, regulators suggest | null | null | www.latimes.com | Two safety regulators are seeking to forcibly limit how fast trucks, buses and other large vehicles can travel on the nation's highways.
A new proposal Friday would impose a nationwide by using an electronic device to cap speeds of newly made U.S. vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Regulators are considering a cap of 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour, though that could change. Whatever the speed limit, the device would make it physically impossible for drivers to exceed it.
The proposal, which comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, would not force older heavy vehicles to add the speed-limiting technology, but the regulators are still considering it.
The government said capping speeds for new large vehicles will reduce the 1,115 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks that occur on average each year and save $1 billion in fuel costs.
Although some safety advocates and nonprofessional drivers welcome the idea, many truckers said that such changes could lead to dangerous scenarios where they are traveling at much lower speeds than everyone else.
The rule has been ensnared in a regulatory maze ever since the nonprofit group Roadsafe America issued its first petition in 2006. The group was founded by Atlanta financial advisor Steve Owings and his wife, Susan, whose son Cullum was killed by a speeding tractor-trailer in 2002. The nonprofit organization was later joined by the American Trucking Assns., the nation's largest trucking industry group.
Owings said he keep pushing NHTSA to force older heavy vehicles to limit their speeds.
“We are dismayed and outraged to learn the proposed rule will be for newly manufactured trucks and will not apply to the millions of trucks with which we continue to share the roads,” he said.
NHTSA said retrofitting vehicles with the speed-limiting technology could be too costly, and it is still seeking comments and additional information. NHTSA said the retrofits could cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000 per vehicle, depending on when the vehicle was made. Changes to some engines could also be required, increasing the costs, NHTSA said. Only heavy vehicles made since 1990 could be retrofitted, since those made before 1990 don't have the capacity to add the technology.
The government agencies involved will take public comment for 60 days, then determine the final limit and decide if the regulation should be put in place.
To James Chapman, a big rig driver from Spartanburg, S.C., 68 mph would be the best option and he'd accept 65. But 60 would be too big of a difference from cars that go 75 or more.
“To me it would be a safety hazard unless it slowed everybody else down,” he said while refueling his truck Friday along Interstate 75 near Findlay, Ohio.
The agencies said that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 60 mph could save as many as 498 lives annually. Limiting it to 65 mph could save as many as 214 lives, and limiting it to 68 mph could save as many as 96 lives. There are 3.6 million big rigs on U.S. roads.
The agencies said the proposal is based on available safety data and the additional benefit of better fuel economy.
But Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the 157,000-member Owner Operator Independent Drivers Assn., said her group has opposed the speed limiters because they create dangerous interactions between vehicles as faster cars slow down for trucks. “Differentials in speed increase interactions between vehicles, which increases the likelihood of crashes,” Taylor said.
Yet there is another compelling reason to limit truck speeds. An investigation last year by the Associated Press found that 14 states have speed limits for big trucks that are equal to or higher than the speeds their tires were designed to handle. Most truck tires aren't designed to go faster than 75 mph, and tire manufacturers say traveling faster than that can cause tires to fail and blow out, creating safety issues.
Most of the states with the higher speed limits are west of the Mississippi River. Of the 14, five have speed limits of 80 mph or more and allow trucks to exceed the capability of their tires. NHTSA has said the speed limiters should take care of the discrepancy between state speed limits and truck tire capabilities.
Most of the states with speed limits of 80 or above either didn't know about the truck tire speed ratings or didn't consider them. States set their own speed limits, having been given sole authority to do so by Congress in the mid-1990s.
ALSO
Will Hyundai's eco-friendly Ioniq woo hearts away from Prius?
Bijan store on Rodeo Drive sells for $19,000 per square foot
They built towering new cities in China. Now they're trying it in downtown L.A. | http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-truck-speed-limit-20160826-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/08975c72a136a34e79aa72ca94de7e24f4b3822f5e723f6a0e43fd519be76496.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Mark Olsen"
]
| 2016-08-28T08:49:01 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies%2Fla-et-mn-indie-focus-the-intervention-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c17053/turbine/la-et-mn-indie-focus-the-intervention-20160828-snap | en | null | Indie Focus: Late-summer delights with 'The Intervention,' 'Don't Breathe' and 'Southside With You' | null | null | www.latimes.com | Hello! I’m Mark Olsen, and welcome to your weekly field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.
The drumbeat of fall movies, and awards season behind it, is upon us. As my colleagues and I prepare to head north for the Toronto International Film Festival in early September, with festivals in Venice and Telluride preceding us, we’re already seeing movies that have that prestige sheen to them and feeling the turnover.
But there are still plenty of movies coming out now, too, and good ones at that.
This past week we had an unexpectedly emotional Q&A with John Krasinski for “The Hollars,” which he directed and stars in. He spoke about the importance of the values of family both within the movie and to him personally. Plus, no surprise, he’s funny and charming, so it was a great night. Check events.latimes.com for more info about upcoming events.
‘The Intervention’
Actress Clea DuVall makes her debut as writer and director with “The Intervention,” a funny, earnest examination of the hard work of being in a couple and also the ease with which so many of us judge others rather than taking a real look at ourselves. It has a sparkling ensemble, which includes DuVall herself, alongside Melanie Lynskey, Cobie Smulders, Ben Schwartz, Jason Ritter, Natasha Lyonne and Vincent Piazza.
In his review for The Times, Robert Abele said, “In the case of actress Clea DuVall’s debut as writer-director, a four-couple stew called ‘The Intervention,’ there’s little in the way of relationship mishigas you haven’t seen before. But as an unfussy, dryly amusing and sincere look at men and women pondering emotional pivots in their lives, it’s plenty likable.”
"The Intervention" cast members include Ben Schwartz, from left, Alia Shawkat, Jason Ritter, Clea DuVall, Cobie Smulders, Vincent Piazza and Melanie Lynskey. Al Seib / Los Angeles Times "The Intervention" cast members include Ben Schwartz, from left, Alia Shawkat, Jason Ritter, Clea DuVall, Cobie Smulders, Vincent Piazza and Melanie Lynskey. "The Intervention" cast members include Ben Schwartz, from left, Alia Shawkat, Jason Ritter, Clea DuVall, Cobie Smulders, Vincent Piazza and Melanie Lynskey. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
In the L.A. Weekly, April Wolfe likewise noted, “It’s rare for films to capture what it’s like for a relationship to come to the brink, and then miraculously adapt to a new way of being, sometimes better than it was before, and other times just different. ‘The Intervention’ may not redefine the genre, but it’s a solid addition.”
I spoke to DuVall, Lynskey, Smulders and most of the rest of the cast. The process of making the movie actually made DuVall do a bit of self-examination.
“I definitely have become less judge-y, and I definitely have become more aware when I start to go in that direction,” she said. “To kind of pull back and look at people from a place of compassion and understanding and being in their shoes. Most of the time we can relate to other people if we try.”
‘Don’t Breathe’
As the follow-up to his debut feature, his version of the cult horror classic “Evil Dead,” filmmaker Fede Alvarez has crafted a horror-thriller deceptive in its simplicity and somewhat devious in its ability to reorient its storytelling to keep audiences off-balance. The new “Don’t Breathe” is a heist picture and home invasion story in which the thieves get more than they came looking for.
I spoke to Alvarez and Sam Raimi, a producer on the new film, about crafting a modern horror-thriller.
“What I love with horror is that it has that power, even with a small budget and simplicity,” said Alvarez. “It can take you to a level of emotion, a feeling that is so strong it gets people jumping in their seats, covering their eyes. They think they are threatened physically even though they know it’s a movie and nothing is going to happen. So I put audiences through very strong emotions, and I earn their money.”
And a special sidebar with horror recommendations from Raimi.
Jane Levy in "Don't Breathe." Gordon Timpen / Sony / Screen Gems Jane Levy in "Don't Breathe." Jane Levy in "Don't Breathe." (Gordon Timpen / Sony / Screen Gems)
In his review for The Times, Justin Chang said, “The revelations at the heart of ‘Don’t Breathe’ are lurid and ludicrous in the extreme, but they’re also almost incidental — a quick, resourceful means of sustaining a lethal game of cat-and-mouse between predator and prey, and between filmmaker and audience.”
At MTV, Amy Nicholson said, “There’s one scene that crosses the line from visceral to crass, which cheapens the film. Otherwise, ‘Don’t Breathe’ is a small delight, like stumbling across a shiny silver dollar. Alvarez knows the size of his ambitions. He’s written one great ghoul, surrounded him with targets, and simply let him let rip.”
At Time, Stephanie Zacharek wrote, “Horror is pretty much the last refuge of filmmakers who want to practice old-time movie artistry in the style of Brian De Palma or David Cronenberg — in other words, using the camera to tell much of the story — while also reaching a wide, mainstream audience. “
‘Southside With You’
Writer-director Richard Tanne creates a fictionalized version of the 1989 first date between Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson, who would, of course, eventually marry and go on to become President and First lady of these United States. Much has already been written about that fateful date, that they went to see “Do The Right Thing” and ate ice cream, but “Southside With You” humanizes the moment and fills in some gaps. | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-indie-focus-the-intervention-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ebf7b7cb2c18e98142a52f13d4c781bea1cd76ddbc66b918ed26cd140f8646cc.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Donald Liebenson"
]
| 2016-08-27T22:49:13 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fmovies%2Fla-ca-mn-classic-hollywood-raquel-welchd20160815-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b626db/turbine/la-ca-mn-classic-hollywood-raquel-welchd20160815-snap | en | null | Classic Hollywood: Raquel Welch reflects on her life as a sex symbol and movie star | null | null | www.latimes.com | At the beginning of “Fantastic Voyage,” star Stephen Boyd can be forgiven for being momentarily distracted by the comely technical assistant for “the top brain man in the country.” He’s about to operate on a comatose Russian scientist who has defected to the West, but what he really wants to know is, “Who’s the girl?”
Excellent question.
The girl turns out to be Raquel Welch in her first major film role. “Fantastic Voyage” was released on Aug. 24, 1966, and by year’s end, the question would be moot. Everyone would know who Raquel Welch was.
For Welch, the picture was the beginning of her own fantastic voyage as a movie star and sex symbol — including playing a bikini-clad cavewoman that resulted in one of the more memorable film posters ever.
“It doesn’t seem like 50 years to me,” Welch said. “Time seems to go much faster, so there’s never any time to absorb anything. But I look back and I think, ‘Wasn’t I just a very lucky young lady to have stumbled into these crazy circumstances?’”
Caption The Comedy Comedy Festival in Little Tokyo The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. The comedy festival running Thursday through Sunday in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo neighborhood is an Asian American comedy fest with a bill of more than 100 comics of Asian descent. You probably wouldn't know that from the name of the event: the Comedy Comedy Festival. Caption Director Andrew Ahn on his new film, 'Spa Night' Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night." Actor Joe Seo and director Andrew Ahn discuss what inspired the new film "Spa Night."
By every measure, 1966 was a breakout year for Welch. The previous two years, the former Miss La Jolla beauty contest winner and a mother of two had had cameos and uncredited walk-throughs on such popular TV shows as “Bewitched” and “McHale’s Navy,” and in the Elvis Presley film “Roustabout.”
A screen test opposite James Coburn for the 007 spoof “Our Man Flint” led to a multi-film contract with 20th Century Fox. “Fantastic Voyage” looked to her to be an auspicious beginning. “I knew it was going to be [director] Richard Fleischer and there was quite an illustrious cast of established, wonderful actors,” she said. “It would be a good chance to see what it’s like to make a big movie.”
Still, what most remember about “Fantastic Voyage” is Welch in her skintight wetsuit. She vividly recalls her crush on Boyd (“I was too frightened to even flirt with him”) and fussing over the word “oxygenation,” which she practiced over and over for fear of embarrassing herself in front of the more experienced ensemble.
“I wrote it on the scenery where I was standing, and it went off in one take,” she recalled proudly.
It turned out to be a prestige film. It was nominated for several Oscars and won for art direction and special visual effects. It’s considered one of the best sci-fi films of that era.
Welch was more skeptical about “One Million Years B.C,” a remake of a 1940 film starring Victor Mature.
“I had just hung on Foley wires for eight months [making ‘Fantastic Voyage’],” she recalled with a laugh. “I told [studio head Richard Zanuck], ‘Oh, please don’t make me do a dinosaur movie.’ Mr. Zanuck told me I was going to be a big star, and I thought, ‘Yeah, sure.’ I asked him, ‘What could I possibly wear [as a cavewoman]?’’ He said, ‘They’ll work something out.’ ”
What they worked out was an instantly iconic deerskin bikini, and Welch cut a striking figure in it, or, as the New York Times hailed her in its review of the film (which was released in the U.K. in 1966 and domestically in 1967), “A marvelous breathing monument to womankind.”
“I liked that there was something very superhero about her,” Welch said. “At least I wasn’t one of those mincing little girls; I never wanted to be that.”
When production moved to London (which was the only reason she wanted to do the film in the first place), Welch got off the plane to “tons of photographers” yelling her name. A poster featuring a photograph taken during filming atop a volcano in the Canary Islands had gone the 1966 equivalent of viral.
Becoming an overnight sex symbol “was not my plan, I can assure you,” Welch said, ‘I thought, ‘This is not at all who I am,’ but then at the same time, I was thinking, ‘Maybe that’s the way fate has planned it so I could at least get aboard. Otherwise, I was a young mother, and if I would have had to wait around for a really wonderful role that more established actresses would be more likely to be cast in, I might not have been able to have a career.”
And for all that, Welch concedes, “It’s a pretty striking shot, isn’t it? It wasn’t like a pinup. It was really sauvage. I never liked the idea of being coy.”
Writer-director Frank Darabont liked it too, and featured “Fuzzy Britches” as “The Shawshank Redemption’s” most pivotal jail cell prop (no spoiler alert for the one or two people who haven’t seen it).
“To mark the passage of time of Andy Dufresne’s [Tim Robbins] incarceration, you had posters of Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and me,” Welch gushed. “I couldn’t believe this fabulous director thought I deserved to be in that company, I was really honored. And on top of that, it is such a great movie.”
Fifty years on, the 75-year-old Welch is still striking and still working. She just completed filming “How to Be a Latin Lover,” an ensemble comedy featuring Eugenio Derbez, Rob Lowe, Kristen Bell and Salma Hayek.
She good-naturedly dismissed a third film that came out in 1966, the Italian production “Shoot Loud, Louder…I Don’t Understand,” although she loved working with costar Marcello Mastroianni, who, she reported, had a penchant for napping between takes. “I think he was a very busy bee,” she hinted, “but he was so charming. I was just enthralled to watch him sleep.”
What would Welch tell that girl in 1966 who went up a mountain to film a dinosaur movie and came down an international celebrity?
“I was like Alice in Wonderland,” she said. “I was trying to hide it because I was afraid people would see how green I was. There were so many things going for me, but with it came a lot of stereotypical opinions about my abilities and who I was.
“In the end, I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to do various things I am very proud of, including Broadway and the physical comedy in ‘The Three Musketeers’ [for which she won a Golden Globe]. So I would probably say to her, ‘Good for you.’”
[email protected] | http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-classic-hollywood-raquel-welchd20160815-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/f0fd42236e2391819dcdc6b4cf4996c0f97a2799f6e1f0dded5875882644093d.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Brittny Mejia"
]
| 2016-08-31T14:50:15 | null | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-metro-bus-collision-20160831-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Dump truck collides with Metro bus in Culver City; several injured | null | null | www.latimes.com | Several people were injured after a dump truck collided with a Metro bus early Wednesday in Culver City, police said.
Police received a call around 5:30 a.m. about the accident, said Sgt. Gary Irwin of the Culver City police. The bus was heading east on Jefferson Boulevard and the dump truck was coming off the northbound 405 Freeway exit when the two collided in the intersection. It is unclear what led to the collision.
The driver and five passengers on the bus were injured; four were transported to a hospital, Irwin said. The driver of the dump truck was also injured, he said.
Police have asked California Highway Patrol to block off the northbound exit at Jefferson Boulevard, Irwin said.
Because the collision was determined to have occurred in Los Angeles, Irwin said, officers were waiting for Los Angeles police to arrive.
For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't miss Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Huma Abedin leaves her husband, Anthony Weiner, Apple owes Ireland big, Brock Turner is released, and the 4 Aurora movie massacre survivors owe Cinemark lawyer fees. Caption Kim Jong Un executes using anti-aircraft gun South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August. South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Kim Jong Un had two North Korean officials executed with an anti-aircraft gun in early August.
MORE LOCAL NEWS
101 Freeway reopens in downtown Los Angeles after police coax possible jumper from overpass
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UPDATES:
7 a.m.: This article was updated with details on injuries.
This article was originally published at 6:25 a.m. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-metro-bus-collision-20160831-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-31T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/bc196bc2b191e51ff54ab2481b3ad5dfb6a90d9465a78abb0568cf1953fa5860.json |
[
"Glendale News Press",
"Kelly Corrigan"
]
| 2016-08-26T13:15:44 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsocal%2Fglendale-news-press%2Fnews%2Ftn-gnp-me-starbucks-20160818-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b64f7a/turbine/tn-gnp-me-starbucks-20160818 | en | null | First drive-thru Starbucks opens in La Crescenta | null | null | www.latimes.com | Much to the relief of some local parents, La Crescenta's first drive-thru Starbucks opened its doors Thursday morning, attracting many who preferred to order coffee from the convenience of their cars.
But the store's opening also was a welcome event for others inside, including three La Crescenta mothers eager to scope out the interior of the building, where for the past 30 years a Burger King was located before its recent overhaul.
At a table by a window, the three moms — Lyttle Sullivan, Erin Monacelli, and Sarah Stehly — praised the interior, which is spacious enough for strollers. They also liked the shaded and fenced-off patio as well asthe parking lot that has more than 30 spaces.
"As moms of small children, this is a big deal for us," Sullivan said.
The trio had been waiting for weeks for the new Starbucks to open.
La Crescenta Starbucks Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press Cindy Herrera uses the drive-thru to get her caffeine fix at the new Starbucks in La Crescenta. Cindy Herrera uses the drive-thru to get her caffeine fix at the new Starbucks in La Crescenta. (Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press) (Raul Roa / Glendale News-Press)
All three met there Thursday morning with their youngest children, ranging in ages from 9 months to 4 years old, after they dropped off their older children at school.
Stehly noticed right away that her daughter's stroller was not going to interfere with anyone's space.
"We can all meet, bring the kids, it's not going to be uncomfortable," she said.
They anticipate using the drive-thru on days when they have cars full of children and no time to park and walk inside.
"It's very convenient," Monacelli said.
They were not the only local parents pleased with the space.
Local father Hamlet Grigorian, who drank his coffee on the patio, praised the new store and its ample parking.
As the new site opened, a nearby Starbucks that was located a couple of blocks away closed. That Starbucks, which had been located at 3747 Foothill Blvd., shared a parking lot with several other businesses.
The new site at 3517 Foothill Blvd. features parking spaces that don't compete with other businesses.
"I love it," Grigorian said. "I love the space."
Earlier in the morning, after dropping his children off at school, he saw the store was open for business, and with a week off from work, he didn't have to rush to be anywhere.
"This was a good chance to sit, relax, have some coffee and people watch," he said.
A Starbucks spokesperson said the company could not accommodate a request for an interview.
--
Kelly Corrigan, [email protected]
Twitter: @kellymcorrigan | http://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/news/tn-gnp-me-starbucks-20160818-story.html | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/ab9282254abb34598334285d17d23076139da9d372e6181bced540610df00fb3.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Andrew Khouri"
]
| 2016-08-27T00:49:14 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fbusiness%2Fla-fi-bijan-sale-20160825-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bfa59a/turbine/la-fi-bijan-sale-20160825-snap | en | null | Bijan property on Rodeo Drive sells for $19,000 a square foot | null | null | www.latimes.com | The demand for $5,000 handbags and $25,000 suits is slipping amid global turmoil.
But enthusiasm for real estate on Rodeo Drive, where such high-end goods are sold, isn’t hurting. Instead it’s setting records.
The parent company of Louis Vuitton recently paid $122 million, or $19,405 a square foot, for the yellow House of Bijan building at 420 N. Rodeo, long home to a boutique known as “the most expensive store in the world.” The deal, revealed in public records, was the second time in seven months that a record fell on Rodeo.
Late last year, Chanel paid $13,217 a square foot for a store it was leasing nearby at 400 N. Rodeo, the high-water mark for California retail until last month’s Bijan sale.
The eye-popping amounts reflect how few properties there are on the Beverly Hills street, as well as how infrequently they go on sale. And in a struggling market for luxury goods, the deals underscore that high-profile streets such as Rodeo or Manhattan’s upper Fifth Avenue are far more than a place to sell a $10,000 timepiece.
“They are billboards in some places for the brand,” said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of consulting firm Luxury Institute. “The companies can demonstrate power, and their staying power, by buying up these properties.”
Indeed, Marc Schillinger, a director with commercial real estate company HFF who represented the seller Bijan Properties, said “everyone came out of the woodwork when we announced the opportunity to buy this asset.”
“There are only 2½ blocks on Rodeo Drive,” said Schillinger, who declined to confirm the price or buyer. uEvery luxury retailer wants to anchor their brand on Rodeo.”
That’s proving true even as the luxury retail market takes a breather. Sales of luxury goods in the U.S. have fallen around 10% on average over the last year, while traffic in luxury stores is down 20%, Pedraza said.
The downbeat numbers are due to several reasons -- similar to ones that have softened ultra-high-end residential real estate markets in places such as Los Angeles, New York and London.
Slowing global economies and a strong U.S. dollar have sapped the buying power of foreigners and dampened tourism. Meanwhile, uncertainty over the economy in the U.S., along with the upcoming presidential election, has caused some wealthy Americans to hit pause on big purchases.
On Friday, Italian retailer Prada said its retail sales in the Americas fell 15% in the first half of the year, explaining that the U.S. market “remains tough.”
“So many factors have converged -- unfortunately in a negative way,” Pedraza said.
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has done better than many retailers though. The Paris-based luxury goods conglomerate reported that U.S. sales climbed 7% during the first half of the year.
A high-profile store, however, isn’t just about selling goods. Even in the age of e-commerce, high-end digs have worth as a place to hold flashy events and market a brand’s cachet across the globe.
Fashion houses are willing to pay a premium to buy such an opportunity. They’d rather do so than rent and risk losing the location if their lease is not renewed, said Robert Cohen, vice chairman of real estate firm RKF.
That’s especially true as fast-fashion companies with far lower prices increasingly compete for such locations, including an H&M that opened on a pricey stretch of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in 2014.
The highest price per square foot for a U.S. retail space came two years ago when Chanel purchased a shop it was leasing in New York on Madison Avenue for $31,329 a square foot, according to Real Capital Analytics.
“They are protecting their position on the street and in the market,” Cohen said of such purchases.
It’s unclear what LVMH’s plans are for the Bijan building, where the iconic store has operated for 40 years.
The Paris retailer with 70 brands already has multiple stores on Rodeo including Louis Vuitton and Dior locations that it leases and a Celine store that it owns.
A spokesperson for LVMH declined to comment, as did a manager at Bijan.
Iranian American designer Bijan Pakzad opened his appointment-only boutique on Rodeo Drive in 1976. It became known for its ultra luxury goods such as $6,000 suits and $19,000 ostrich vests.
Through the years, House of Bijan counted many high-profile names among his clients, including Michael Eisner, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Presidents Carter, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama. Pakzad had success to match, with homes across the world he flew to on his own jet.
Pakzad died in 2011 but left a lasting imprint on Rodeo Drive, helping to make it a world-class destination. The store’s manager, who declined to give his name, said the store is now owned by Pakzad’s family.
“Long before Tom Ford and Karl Lagerfeld, Bijan had a keen understanding of the cult of personality in fashion, starring in his own ads and billboards, name-checking countless celebrities and parking exotic cars outside his store, all to stoke his fame," former Times fashion critic Booth Moore said following Pakzad’s death.
But throughout the decades, as rents soared along with the cachet, Rodeo has lost many of its local boutiques, including Fred Hayman’s famed Giorgio Beverly Hills, with its distinctive white-and-yellow striped awning, which closed in 1998.
The Bijan store is operating under a lease; its expiration has not been disclosed.
Given the sky-high sale to LVMH, the pricey but small House of Bijan is likely to go as well, real estate broker Cohen said.
The French firm may want to bring in a deep-pocketed tenant who would pay more in rent, or give yet another of its brands a foothold on Rodeo.
“It’s one of the greatest luxury streets in the world,” he said. “It’s global branding and global domination.”
[email protected]
Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter
MORE BUSINESS NEWS
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How to calculate the 'magic number' for college savings | http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bijan-sale-20160825-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/68124ff27924dfee7149da70b91271d7b2675660118799b5568e5d3359fb57e1.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-27T12:49:00 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fopinion%2Freadersreact%2Fla-ol-le-nate-parker-birth-of-a-nation-20160827-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c12124/turbine/la-ol-le-nate-parker-birth-of-a-nation-20160827-snap | en | null | Why we must separate the art from the artist | null | null | www.latimes.com | To the editor: Noah Berlatsky’s life would be impoverished were he unable to separate the art from the artist. Great artists, except for their grand achievements, are human in every other respect, abounding with imperfections and misdeeds. (“Should 'The Birth of a Nation' audiences care about Nate Parker allegations?” Opinion, Aug. 22)
Caravaggio was both a pimp and murderer; Fyodor Dostoyevsky, in the dead of winter, sold his wife’s winter coat for gambling money; and Paul Cezanne, an anti-Semite, broke off relations with his closest friend, Camille Pissarro, a Sephardic Jew, because of the scandalous Dreyfus affair.
Edgar Degas, another anti-Semite, broke off relations with a Jew even though he dined at his family’s home several times a week; both Cezanne and Pierre Auguste Renoir broke off relations with their close friend, Emile Zola, for Zola’s support of Alfred Dreyfus; and we all know of Richard Wagner’s views about Jews.
If Berlatsky wants to remain acculturated, he needs to draw a line.
Jack Salem, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: As a woman and a filmmaker who values good movies, keeps up on the news and is aghast at the casual dismissal of campus rape, I was eager to read this piece. I found the writer’s examination of the separation of art and artist to be generally well-reasoned.
However, I am troubled by one aspect of its treatment of “The Birth of a Nation” director and writer Nate Parker.
Parker was tried for and acquitted of rape. I am not dismissing cases in which a perpetrator is let off easy for specious reasons or the possibility that the verdict reached in Parker’s trial was incorrect.
However, the possibility that Parker is indeed innocent is never even mentioned. This lack of balance casts the article’s entire premise in doubt.
Mindi White, Los Angeles
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook | http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-nate-parker-birth-of-a-nation-20160827-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/016dd1c33909dd3a02652583f955db8b0e1c6a6505dc3a2306f70d7fc0dc4605.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Jenn Harris"
]
| 2016-08-29T14:49:39 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Ftravel%2Fla-tr-budget-airlines-20160810-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57be0eaf/turbine/la-tr-budget-airlines-20160810-snap | en | null | I tried out 5 cheap airlines this summer. Here's what I found | null | null | www.latimes.com | Booking a flight to your vacation destination can be stressful, especially if you’ve never heard of some of the carriers you’re seeing. (Is “Wow” really the name of an airline? It is.) And most of the new carriers are advertising low fares, but you have some reservations.
Are they trustworthy? Are they safe? And most of all, will they really save you money?
To find out, I sampled five low-cost carriers this summer that fly to places that are reader favorites — or maybe on their bucket lists: Allegiant, which serves a host of smaller markets; Norwegian, which has become something of a low-cost darling; Spirit, consistently voted the most hated airline in America; Thomas Cook, around for a dozen years but relatively new to LAX; and Wow, an Icelandic airline.
You can thank me later.
Among the lessons learned? Low expectations are key, and a ticket on a budget airline may not be a bargain when all is packed, checked and paid for.
Here’s a look at what it was like to fly each one, and I’ve given each a letter grade.
Passengers on an Allegiant Air flight. Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times Passengers on an Allegiant Air flight. Passengers on an Allegiant Air flight. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)
Allegiant (round trip LAX-Honolulu): The airline, based in Las Vegas, offers flights from LAX to more than 110 U.S. destinations.
It departs from Terminal 3, which has just one restaurant, a Burger King, two sets of restrooms and the Starbucks line from hell.
The plane/your seat: The interior of the Boeing 757-200 was worn. Its leather seats were cracked, and its carpeting was dirty. The cabin wasn’t spotless, but I wasn’t afraid to touch anything.
Need legroom? Book a Legroom-plus seat with a 34-inch pitch (the number of inches from a point on your seat to the same point on the seat in front of you) in Row 4 on the right side of the plane. I had to unbuckle my seat belt and stand to reach my bag under the seat in front of me.
I had a regular seat with standard legroom (30-inch pitch) on the return flight from Honolulu.
No in-flight entertainment so you’ll need to have a book or load movies on your smartphone or tablet.
Customer service/attendants: The attendants wore orange or navy polo shirts and khaki shorts. Their attitudes matched their attire: Everyone was laid-back and polite.
What you’re eating: Whatever you brought with you. There is no meal option, but there are snacks (crackers, chips, nuts) and drinks (including alcoholic options) for sale ($2 to $7). And no, water is not free. It’s $2 a bottle.
What I paid: Round-trip airfare, including taxes: $478.05. Carry-on bag fee: $50 round trip. Seat selection fee: up to $80 per one way. I paid $55 round trip for my seat selection. If I had used a credit card rather than a debit card to buy my round-trip ticket, I would have paid $32 more. Printing a boarding pass at the airport would have cost $5 more.
Grand total: $583 round trip.
Did I save money? Yes. The next lowest base fare: round-trip LAX-Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines in the same time period for $785.
Overall grade: B+, based on comfort level and good customer service.
Boeing 737-800 of low-cost airline Norwegian flying near Oslo airport in Gardermoen. Kyrre Lien / AFP/Getty Images Boeing 737-800 of low-cost airline Norwegian flying near Oslo airport in Gardermoen. Boeing 737-800 of low-cost airline Norwegian flying near Oslo airport in Gardermoen. (Kyrre Lien / AFP/Getty Images)
Norwegian (one way London/Gatwick-LAX): The airline is one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe and offers nonstop flights to and from 10 cities in the United States, including Las Vegas. Norwegian flies out of LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal.
The plane/your seat: The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner was clean and roomy. The standard seats had a fair amount of legroom with a 32-inch pitch. The premium seats, which can cost several hundred dollars more, have a 46-inch pitch.
Each seat back had a screen with free in-flight entertainment featuring music, TV shows and movies.
The best part? Plenty of restrooms (nine), important on a long flight.
Customer service/attendants: Courteous and patient. Not knowing there was a charge for blankets, I asked an attendant for one. He let me know they weren’t free, but then gave me one at no charge.
What you’re eating: The standard in-flight meal — a pasta salad starter, dry chicken in a tomato sauce, hard rice and a brownie/chocolate cake square — cost $45. The meal did come with a glass of wine, which lessened the sticker shock.
A smaller cold meal (sandwich) is included at no extra charge later in the flight; chips, nuts and other snacks, including sandwiches, a salad and a plate of charcuterie and olives, are available for purchase (about $2 to $10.50).
What I paid: One-way airfare, including taxes: $819.50. $45 for in-flight meal, $45 for checked bag, and $45 seat-selection fee.
The seat-selection fee may be included depending on your ticket price; seat-selection fee with a “low-fare” ticket from $12 to $45.
Grand total: $954.50.
Did I save money? Yes. Next lowest base fare for a one-way London/Gatwick-LAX ticket on Lufthansa in the same time period: $1,380.
Overall grade: A-, based on comfort level, great customer service and good plane amenities.
Caption What did you do on your summer vacation? Took photos, we bet. Share them with us and the world Our annual summer vacation photo issue is almost here. What will you submit for possible inclusion in our Sept. 18 issue? Our annual summer vacation photo issue is almost here. What will you submit for possible inclusion in our Sept. 18 issue? Caption Looking for a place to stay in L.A. on the cheap? Try Hostelling International in Santa Monica Hostels, where people share rooms with strangers, are a classic low-budget option for travelers. Hostelling International, part of a chain, can accommodate up to 273 guests in a place that’s a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier. Hostels, where people share rooms with strangers, are a classic low-budget option for travelers. Hostelling International, part of a chain, can accommodate up to 273 guests in a place that’s a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.
Spirit Airlines (round trip LAX-Dallas): King of the low-fare airlines and the carrier fliers love to hate. Almost everything on the plane will cost you except the air you breathe.
The airline flies to destinations throughout the United States and the Caribbean, Central and South America. Spirit, like Allegiant, departs from LAX Terminal 3, so plan accordingly. Don’t expect coffee and bring your own food.
The plane/your seat: The Airbus A320 was filthy. How filthy? There was a half-eaten cookie under the seat in front of me, dirt was caked on all the metal surfaces, and black and brown smudges of undetermined origin covered the overhead bins and window frames.
I paid $35 each way for seating in a cracked leather seat in an exit row, which had plenty of legroom, with a 38-inch pitch. (Standard seats have a 28-inch pitch.) No in-flight entertainment; no charging stations. | http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-budget-airlines-20160810-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/6fa69e28160413d1b583eec2d895428994cc46c69ad9f729a191a3e78f8418f4.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Dan Weikel"
]
| 2016-08-29T00:49:31 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Flocal%2Flanow%2Fla-me-ln-latinos-trump-rally-20160828-snap-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c376c7/turbine/la-me-ln-latinos-trump-rally-20160828-snap | en | null | 'Viva Trump!' Small but vocal group of Latinos rally for Trump in Orange County | null | null | www.latimes.com | Chanting “Viva Trump”, several dozen Latino supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a peaceful rally Sunday in front of Anaheim City Hall.
“He’s the man,” Marco Gutierrez, a co-founder of Latinos for Trump, said of the candidate. “He speaks the language of the heart. He can reach people who have been disenfranchised.”
Although north Orange County has a large Latino population, only about 50 to 60 Latinos and Caucasians turned out for the 2 p.m. rally. There were no counter-demonstrations and no disturbances, according to police.
This was the first event that Latinos for Trump has held in Orange County and he was happy with the turnout, Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said he was not bothered by Trump’s flip-flopping on his plans to get tough on immigration enforcement, including building a wall along the Mexican border and pledging to expel 11 undocumented immigrants.
“He just wants to expedite the process and better enforce our immigration laws,” Gutierrez said.
Ofelia Ramirez, another Trump supporter who attended Sunday’s rally, said she believes Trump can make government work again.
“I’m a Latina and I’m for Trump,” she said. “I believe he can effect change in Washington. We need to send a message to government, to D.C., to senators and representatives of the Republican Party that they cannot continue to get the Hispanic vote and the vote of the American people under false pretenses.”
Caption Protest outside Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Protest outside Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's Hollywood fundraiser at the Beverly Hills estate of controversial billionaire Haim Saban. Caption Gov. Jerry Brown criticizes Donald Trump and his 'acolytes' on climate change In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics In an Aug. 24, 2016 news conference at the state Capitol to praise state lawmakers for enacting sweeping new climate change legislation, Gov. Jerry Brown called out GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and his "acolytes" who have doubts on the existence of climate change. More political coverage at latimes.com/politics
[email protected]
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Mother was deported to Mexico and her kids remain in the U.S. Here's how this family works. | http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-latinos-trump-rally-20160828-snap-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/886805c91cca703c9b682ada8490a9cd798c601757246b470dc521ffdb9a1721.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times"
]
| 2016-08-28T04:49:45 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-jared-goff-takes-a-big-sack-rams-1472352928-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56fd643a/turbine/la-l-a-times-logo-20160331/600 | en | null | Jared Goff takes a big sack, Rams punt | null | null | www.latimes.com | It's too bad Jared Goff doesn't have eyes in the back of his head, otherwise he might have been able to avoid that series ending sack from linebacker Dekoda Watson.
Goff opened the Rams' short, three-play drive with an incomplete toss to rookie receiver Michael Thomas. Running back Aaron Green gained two on a carry before Goff suffered that sack.
Johnny Hekker's punt went 49 yards, but the Broncos will still start with the ball in L.A. territory on the 49-yard line. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-live-updates-rams-broncos-jared-goff-takes-a-big-sack-rams-1472352928-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/85ee1417805d7a47208ba058010f548da793a4f31e9d94088708d7af3cba645e.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"Eduardo Gonzalez"
]
| 2016-08-26T16:49:12 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fsportsnow%2Fla-sp-craig-sager-air-jordan-1s-20160826-snap-htmlstory.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c06755/turbine/la-sp-craig-sager-air-jordan-1s-20160826-snap | en | null | Check out these Air Jordan 1s made in honor of Craig Sager | null | null | www.latimes.com | What better way to honor sports broadcaster Craig Sager for his years of covering the NBA?
His own style of Air Jordan 1s, of course.
Jordan Brand has made Air Jordan 1s in the suit style that Sager is well-known for wearing on the sidelines at sporting events with the words “SAGER VISION” printed on the bottom of the soles. Music DJ/producer DJ Khaled revealed the shoes on his Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJhG257APxA/?taken-by=djkhaled&hl=en
According to Khaled, only two pairs have been made.
The shoes are not available to the public and it’s not known if they ever will be or more will be made.
It’s a perfect tribute to Sager, who is known for his colorful, distinct fashion and is battling leukemia. Hopefully, Sager will don these beauties in the upcoming NBA season.
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Twitter: @edmgonzalez | http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-craig-sager-air-jordan-1s-20160826-snap-htmlstory.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.latimes.com/b49332b19cb00a62d674d8f49dafb1bc99b67e86a95cfc9d01795eec7fbfa99f.json |
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